Preds Schedule Announced

The NHL just released the schedule for the 07-08 hockey season and at first glance it looks favorable for the Preds.

– Saturday Night Fever: The Preds have 14 Saturday home games. For a team trying to get butts in seats nothing is better than a Saturday home game.

– Never Far Away: The Preds have only tow long road trips…a five game swing in Late October that takes them to the Northwest before ending in Chicago and Detroit and a six game trip that starts February 27th that takes the team from Buffalo all the way to the NW again and then back to Detroit for the final game. All in all not a real punishing road schedule (Nashville’s central location in the states does help this though)

– Eight Great At The End: The NHL has scheduled the last eight games all against division rivals. That is GREAT! This is not a Preds thing…this is league wide. Hopefully this will lead to some great races for division titles at the end of the year. A great move by the NHL!

Predictions…Just What You Wanted!

Oh I wanted the Preds to be here…I really thought they would be. Man when we traded for Foppa I could have sworn I overheard a call from the NHL’s official engraver checking to make sure that Tomas Vokoun doesn’t have an ‘H’ in his name. Now I know it was the tee time manager at the Karlovy Vary Country Club asking if would need a caddie or a cart.

East: This will be a heck of a match up.. These could be 2-1 overtime thrillers just as easy as they could be 5-4 run and gun shootouts! I think for me this series comes down to goaltending. Which of these two guys (Ray Emery for Ottawa and Ryan Miller for Buffalo) is going to take control of this series. Both of these goalies have shown flashes of brilliance and have put their respective teams on their backs and carried them to victory. Both of these goalies can also, at times, look a bit shaky, a little unsure of themselves. For me the goalie who steps up and says ‘follow me guys’ is going to take this series. For me I think that guy is Emery. Conventional wisdom says take Miller but for some reason I think this is Emery’s coming out party. This is where Ray makes a name for himself.

My Prediction: Ottawa in hard fought, very physical six.

West: I know these Wings well. The Predators played these guys eight times this year and let me tell you, in case you don’t know, they’re good. I say ‘the Wings are good’ the same way I say ‘I think the internet is going to be around for a while.’ It is an obvious statement. A statement that is just as obvious is ‘these Ducks are good.’ Watching them this year in the playoffs has made me a believer in these Ducks that used to be called mighty. The Ducks are a physical team and if there is an area in which I think they can wear down Detroit it’s the physical play. I think Detroit has made it through two rounds without having to take much of a pounding. If the Ducks can work the body like a prize fighter they have a great chance of taking the series. However, Dominick is once again Dominating and Detroit can lock up the neutral zone better than any team. The Ducks will show some bite but in the end…

My Prediction: Detroit in seven (with at least two overtime games)

Predictions for the Semi’s

Predictions for the Conference Semi-finals:

Buffalo versus The Rangers: While I was impressed with the way the Rangers swept the Thrashers in round one I think they run into a wall here against Buffalo. I see Ryan Miller having a huge seires and really frustrating the Rangers. Look for Drury to continue to produce (let’s not forget the 18 points he put up in last years playoffs.) and for this tea, to really step it up. There is a lot to be said for coming close like they did last year…these boys are hungry and New York will not stop them. Should be a great series…Sabres in 6.

Ottawa versus New Jersey: This promises to be a great series. The way I see it is as a battle of a great goaltender against a potent offense. I believe that the Sens will just have too much for New Jersey. One thing you can expect is a disciplined series from both of these clubs. I expect all of these games to be close and low scoring…no 5-4 wide open games here. Senators in 6

Detroit versus San Jose: Having just seen this San Jose team up close and personal here in Nashville I have to say they are playing great hockey. The problem is that Detroit can really get teams off of their plan and force them to play their game. I see this as one of those series that could go either way but if Nabokov plays like he did against the Preds I predict a San Jose win. Sharks in 7

Anaheim versus Vancouver: Robert Luongo has been incredible so far this post season and the Canucks are finally getting the production from the twins that they bargained for when they took them in the draft years ago. The Ducks bring a potent offense and Selane continues to defy age and score goals. I love J.S Giguere in goal this post season for the Ducks too. All logic tell me that the Ducks will win but my gut says it will be Vancouver in 7.