We had a great season premier of SlapShot Radio last night featuring Doc Emrick and Drew Remenda. The free podcast is posted at the SlapShot Radio website. You can subscribe to our RSS feed, or find us in iTunes.

A special thanks to our sponsors… Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family Dentistry, the good folks at SysTech International, and our newest sponsor, SouthSide Grill, located two miles south of Old Hickory Blvd. on Nolensville Rd in South Nashville. Please patronize our sponsors as they are the reason we are able to bring you a dedicated hockey show, tell them you heard it on SlapShot Radio.

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As the puck drops on the 2010-2011 season, it’s time for my precarious playoff predictions, as once more I gaze deeply into my crystal ball and try to pull out a few winners, here we go…

Eastern Conference

Division Winners – Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington

Playoff Teams
1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh
3. Buffalo
4. Philadelphia
5. Boston
6. New Jersey
7. Ottawa
8. Carolina

Bubbling under – Atlanta and the New York Rangers will be in it toward the end but ultimately will fall short.

Overall - Washington will dominate again in the regular season and make moves around the trade deadline to ensure they get further in the playoffs this year. I expect really good regular seasons from Ottawa and Pittsburgh. Philly comes into the year with goaltending questions again, so what else is new. The only playoff team from last year that doesn’t make it… Montreal, in short… they chose the wrong goalie.

Western Conference

Division Winners – Chicago, Los Angeles, Vancouver

Playoff Teams
1. Vancouver
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. San Jose
5. Detroit
6. Nashville
7. Phoenix
8. St. Louis

Bubbling under – Calgary, Colorado, Anaheim.

Overall - This is a tough conference to call as there are as many as 12 teams in serious contention for the playoffs. Vancouver should be the big dog and it will be interesting to see how they live up to the weight of expectations, both during the regular season and once the playoffs come. The Central Division will be another beast and I am predicting four teams from the Central to make the post season. The Pacific will also be tough with Los Angeles finally breaking through and winning the division outright. Dallas is moving in the right direction but doesn’t have the goaltending to compete…

So… let’s get this thing started… the puck drops at 11am CDT with the first game of the season. Carolina and Minnesota from Finland. The game is carried in the US on Versus

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I have to admit, it was pretty tough to concentrate on doing a hockey radio show with a history making baseball game going on... what a performance by Roy Halliday last night!

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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 with starting lineups and scratches during Pred home games, also I’ll be supplying information and explanations from the PA box.

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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…

SlapShot Radio has dropped the puck on our new season and the podcast of our NHL Preview show is available featuring San Jose broadcaster (and color voice on the NHL 2K series) Drew Ramenda joined us to break down the Western Conference and our very special guest to give us the lowdown on the Eastern Conference was Michael “Doc” Emrick from the NHL on NBC. Pete Weber had a chat with Predators head coach Barry Trotz to get his take on the season as well. It’s all on SlapShot Radio, SportsRadio 560 WNSR, every Wednesday at 6pm… listen online or on podcast at www.slapshotradio.com

For the most updated guest information go to the SlapShot Radio website.

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