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Balanced schedule gives Nashville no excuses this season

Shea Weber

In this Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 photo, Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber shoots against the Winnipeg Jets in a preseason NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn. Weber is one of the anchors on a team that has has once again replaced aging or pricey veterans with young talent acquired through the draft. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

AP

With the 2011-12 season rapidly approaching, the gang at PHT decided to take a look at all 30 NHL teams’ schedules. Each team’s highs and lows will be studied in detail to give you an idea of what the future might hold for each squad.

Note: Mileage figures via On the Forecheck’s “Super Schedule.”

Nashville Predators schedule analysis

Total mileage: 39,534 (16th most miles in NHL and 3rd most in the Central Division)

Back-to-back games: 11

Toughest stretches

The Predators are lucky in that there are no glaring tough stretches to speak of this season. The toughest run is most likely early in the season as they have ten games in a row against teams that made the playoffs last season. Within the stretch, the last five are on a season-long five game road trip. The tough patch starts with games at home against the Sharks, Lightning, and Ducks. Once they pack their bags, they head to Chicago for a game before battling most of the Pacific Division. Dates against Phoenix, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim will definitely keep the Predators attention. When they return, they face a couple more playoff teams in the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.

Easiest periods

The Predators have two stretches during the season where they’ll need to do some damage if they want to make the playoffs (and get a decent seed). Between December 3-15, they’ll play six of seven games at the Bridgestone Arena. Then to start 2012, they play four of five games at home against the likes of Calgary, Dallas, Carolina, and a back-to-back with Colorado. They need to earn a few victories here—they’ll need them later.

Overall outlook

Based on pure numbers, the Predators have the easiest schedule in the Central Division. The 11 back-to-back games is by far the fewest in the division (closest in Detroit with 14). Looking at the way the teams stack up, they will have a good rhythm throughout the season of playing a few games at home and getting on the road before malaise sets in. The longest road trips are only five games (twice), and they’ll have both of those done by December 1.

If the Predators are in the midst of a playoff battle towards the end of the season, they should like the way their schedule wraps up. They’ll have a three game homestand between March 31 – April 5. If they can’t get their business done at home, they have a final game against the Avalanche.

Who knows if the Predators will lock down yet another playoff spot—but one thing we know for sure is that if they miss out, it won’t be because of their schedule.