Predators schedule
Like a lot of other NHL teams, the Predators have many stretches where they are either on the road or at home for the majority of that time. As I look deeper into their schedule, I break it down into 7 segments…
Segment 1:
October 3 – October 15… The Predators get off to a fairly easy start with 4 of 6 at home. The first 5 games are against non-playoff teams from a year ago, and then the ‘Hawks come to town on the 15th.
Segment 2:
October 17 – November 12… An easier-than-normal start is followed by a brutal stretch of 9 road games in 11. This stretch includes jaunts to Washington, Boston, Chicago, Anaheim, and San Jose. It’ll be important that they keep their heads above water through this point in the season.
Segment 3:
November 14 – December 15… This is the stretch where the Preds can rack up some points! 13 of 17 are at the friendly confines of the Sommet Center, including two visits from divisional rivals Detroit and Columbus. This chunk of the schedule also features back-to-back nights at home against St. Louis and Florida just after Thanksgiving. Nashville tends to get hot at this point in the calendar, so this could be a launching point for them…
Segment 4:
December 17 – January 15… You’re looking at the make-or-break stretch of the season here. In the span of less than a month, the Preds make two trips to Western Canada, play 5 home games against playoff teams, and make key visits to Chicago, Columbus, and St. Louis in succession. Overall, they play 9 of 14 on the road in this segment, and it’s a very difficult stretch; in fact, the Oilers are the only non-playoff team from last year on the schedule. This very well could be the tipping point in their season because the Western Canada swing usually isn’t kind to Nashville, and they will face tough opponents at home.
Segment 5:
January 18 – February 14… This stretch is less daunting than the last segment, but it still has its challenges. The Preds will play 8 of 13 on the road, with back-to-back road games in Columbus and Detroit as a potential roadblock. Nashville will basically have to face the Atlantic Divison, making the NY/NJ swing and a pit stop in Pittsburgh before the Olympic break. The home slate looks easy on paper, as they’ll face 4 non-playoff teams in the 5 games.
Segment 6:
March 2 – March 27… Coming off of the 2-week break, it’ll be important for everyone to come out flying. All 30 teams have around 20 games remaining at this point. The Preds went 8-1-2 in the 11 games after the Olympic break in 2006, and it vaulted them into a solid position for home-ice in the 1st round. This year, they’ll play 9 of 15 at home, with just a 3-game swing in California as a roadblock. The Preds will play many key home games, 8 against Western Conference teams. Like ’06, they need to play well and carry some momentum going into the home stretch.
Segment 7:
March 29 – April 10… The Preds will have 3 games at home, and 3 away to end the 09/10 campaign. They’ll finish the season at home for the first time in 4 years when they play St. Louis on April 10, the last Saturday of the season. They play the Blues on April 1, as well as the Kings… both at home. Road dates in Detroit, Phoenix, and Florida will also be on tap. This is the final stretch of the season, and it looks much better than last season’s!
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Segment 4, the middle stretch of the season, looks to be the biggest challenge of the Preds’ season as we sit here on July 19. If they get through that holding a playoff spot, though, things will be looking good in Music City. The end of the season is much more favorable than last season. The Predators will play 9 of their last 13 at home, contrary to the 5 of 7 road stretch to end the 08/09 campaign.
We are less than 2 months away from teams opening training camp, and less than 3 months from opening night on October 1st. DROP THE FREAKIN’ PUCK!!!
Like a lot of other NHL teams, the Predators have many stretches where they are either on the road or at home for the majority of that time. As I look deeper into their schedule, I break it down into 7 segments…
Segment 1:
October 3 – October 15… The Predators get off to a fairly easy start with 4 of 6 at home. The first 5 games are against non-playoff teams from a year ago, and then the ‘Hawks come to town on the 15th.
Segment 2:
October 17 – November 12… An easier-than-normal start is followed by a brutal stretch of 9 road games in 11. This stretch includes jaunts to Washington, Boston, Chicago, Anaheim, and San Jose. It’ll be important that they keep their heads above water through this point in the season.
Segment 3:
November 14 – December 15… This is the stretch where the Preds can rack up some points! 13 of 17 are at the friendly confines of the Sommet Center, including two visits from divisional rivals Detroit and Columbus. This chunk of the schedule also features back-to-back nights at home against St. Louis and Florida just after Thanksgiving. Nashville tends to get hot at this point in the calendar, so this could be a launching point for them…
Segment 4:
December 17 – January 15… You’re looking at the make-or-break stretch of the season here. In the span of less than a month, the Preds make two trips to Western Canada, play 5 home games against playoff teams, and make key visits to Chicago, Columbus, and St. Louis in succession. Overall, they play 9 of 14 on the road in this segment, and it’s a very difficult stretch; in fact, the Oilers are the only non-playoff team from last year on the schedule. This very well could be the tipping point in their season because the Western Canada swing usually isn’t kind to Nashville, and they will face tough opponents at home.
Segment 5:
January 18 – February 14… This stretch is less daunting than the last segment, but it still has its challenges. The Preds will play 8 of 13 on the road, with back-to-back road games in Columbus and Detroit as a potential roadblock. Nashville will basically have to face the Atlantic Divison, making the NY/NJ swing and a pit stop in Pittsburgh before the Olympic break. The home slate looks easy on paper, as they’ll face 4 non-playoff teams in the 5 games.
Segment 6:
March 2 – March 27… Coming off of the 2-week break, it’ll be important for everyone to come out flying. All 30 teams have around 20 games remaining at this point. The Preds went 8-1-2 in the 11 games after the Olympic break in 2006, and it vaulted them into a solid position for home-ice in the 1st round. This year, they’ll play 9 of 15 at home, with just a 3-game swing in California as a roadblock. The Preds will play many key home games, 8 against Western Conference teams. Like ’06, they need to play well and carry some momentum going into the home stretch.
Segment 7:
March 29 – April 10… The Preds will have 3 games at home, and 3 away to end the 09/10 campaign. They’ll finish the season at home for the first time in 4 years when they play St. Louis on April 10, the last Saturday of the season. They play the Blues on April 1, as well as the Kings… both at home. Road dates in Detroit, Phoenix, and Florida will also be on tap. This is the final stretch of the season, and it looks much better than last season’s!
---
Segment 4, the middle stretch of the season, looks to be the biggest challenge of the Preds’ season as we sit here on July 19. If they get through that holding a playoff spot, though, things will be looking good in Music City. The end of the season is much more favorable than last season. The Predators will play 9 of their last 13 at home, contrary to the 5 of 7 road stretch to end the 08/09 campaign.
We are less than 2 months away from teams opening training camp, and less than 3 months from opening night on October 1st. DROP THE FREAKIN’ PUCK!!!
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