Big thanks to Peter McNab, Bill Clement and Terry Crisp for joining Pete and I on HockeyBuzz Radio last night. If you missed it… the podcast is posted at www.hockeybuzzradio.com/podcats.html

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The puck has dropped tonight for the NHL while the Nashville Predators are continuing their preparations for their Saturday night pot lifter on a critical October. Yup, I said it… a critical October. It’s not really hyperbole.

This year, the team has 13 games in the month of October alone. The Predators started last season’s first 13 games with a so-so 6-6-1 record. The Predator’s October includes 3 big games against division rival Chicago. Chicago, without Marian Hossa. Points in these three games against the ‘Hawks will give the Preds a leg up against a team that is expected to give Detroit a run for the division crown.

Also, in a bit of a strange schedule quirk, Nashville also has three of its’ four games against Dallas this season in October, including two at American Airlines Center. The Stars have similar hopes of a playoff return and need to get off to a good start of their own. The Predator’s record in Dallas is not a good one, the team posted an 0-2 record last season.

The other feature of the October schedule is an early five game road trip taking the team from Washington, Boston, Ottawa, Chicago and Minnesota. Coach Barry Trotz loves these kind of early season road trips, believing it really helps solidify the team building that occurred in training camp.

While I do believe this Predator team will be in the mix for a playoff spot come springtime, the team needs to show it learned the lessons of last year,

With the new season on the horizon, the hopes of hockey fans raise… every team has the same record for at least the next few hours… every team has the same chance… at least until the puck drops.

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Word around the camp is that Dan Ellis has the leg up for Saturday night’s opener against Dallas. He certainly had the better preseason.

It looks like another season of a 1A / 1B situation in net. Barry Trotz is dragging out the old standards, talking about taking them “one game at a time” and being “fortunate” to have two that have “been our number 1 goalies.”

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The season opens tonight… four games… wish I could watch ‘em… but DirecTV and Comcast are still being like children fighting over the sandbox… I just have one thing to say to them…

“Oh yeah??? Well… So’s your old man!”

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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… I’ll also be updating during Pred home games in season with information and explanations from the PA box.

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