Opening Night in Smashville.

That will get you going. After a long, hot, hockey-less summer that saw change in Smashville like never seen before, it’s time to drop the puck on a new season, a new attitude and a new era in Nashville hockey.

The Predators open the season against the Ottawa Sentors tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The traditional opening festivities are in place, the gold carpet will be walked, the plaza party will be held, the gold will be overflowing as for the first time in team history… the Nashville Predators will take the ice in a game that counts, with a new bench boss. Peter Laviolette has been discussed ad naseum over the summer. For good reason, but I’m sure I reflect a lot of folks when I say, I’m glad that the talking stops, and the playing begins.

I’m not going to even try to predict what happens in April… nor in the rest of the league from a standpoint of predicting playoff teams But I will make some predictions… just for fun… and I don’t want to take away the chance for everyone to flame my hairbrained prognostications! So here we go…

Paul’s Perilous Predictions…

First… the Order of finish in the Central
1. Chicago
2. St. Louis
3. Dallas
4. Nashville
5. Minnesota
6. Colorado
7. Winnipeg
OK… some of the reasons are simple… I believe that Colorado is in for a fall… not a big one mind you… but a fall nonetheless. I still think they get 88-90 points… but that won’t be enough to crack the playoffs. Minnesota’s goaltending gives me great pause and some of the skill players fell off last season… again, the Wild may be in the 86-92 point range and may sneak in if five teams make the playoffs from the Central. The line between making the playoffs and an early tee time is sooooo razor thin in this division.

Second… Five teams will make the playoffs from the Central – This one needs no explanation.

Third – The Los Angeles Kings will not make the playoffs – No, it’s not based on last night’s loss… but it is based on a team that frankly… struggles to flip the switch until late March/early April. A team that struggled to score goals in the regular season and a team that, without spectacular goaltending, may not have made the playoffs last season. Call me crazy, but I’m sticking with this one.

We’ll get the plaza party going at 4pm with the gold carpet GoldWalk… Lindsey Rowley and I will be hosting the festivities… trying to resist the temptation to ask the players who they are wearing… and pre-game entertainment begins early… I recommend you are in your seat at 645 to catch all of the pregame fun!

See you tonight…

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Random Notes

- Viktor Stalberg is now practicing with the team.

- The team will be welcoming back David Legwand tonight, Nashville’s first ever draft pick in first appearance at the Bridge in opponent’s colors. He is wearing number 17.

- Speaking of Legwand… nice article in the Ottawa Citizen about the “David Legwand Hat Trick” from the day his first son was born in ’09.

- No Marc Methot for the Sens tonight, he did not travel with the team.

- Nice ceremony for the LA Kings raising the banner last night. Bob Miller is class all the way.

- Twelve games on the docket tonight…

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1

Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

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SlapShot Radio is back every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. Early season advertising specials are available to reach our activated listener base… so, if you want to drive more business to your business please… reach out to me. You can email me at paul (at) slapshotradio (.com)

Last night’s podcast is posted on the website.

The SlapShot Radio Road Trip is back!!! Go to our Facebook page for more information and join us as we hit the road to Big D!

We need to nail down tickets quick gang… so head on over!

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