“The first round playoff schedule for the Predators vs Red Wings is out and here’s how it goes:

Game 1: Thursday April 10 in Detroit. 6pm cst. TV Coverage on Versus only

Game 2: Saturday April 12 in Detroit. 1pm cst. Hey it’s an afternoon game! Nationally televised on NBC.

Game 3: Monday April 14 in Nashville. 7pm cst TV Coverage on Versus only.

Game 4: Wednesday April 16 in Nashville. 7cst. TV Coverage on Versus only.

Game 5: Friday April 18 in Detroit. 6pm cst. Coverage on Versus only.

Game 6: Sunday April 20 in Nashville. NBC option.

Game 7: Tuesday April 22 in Detroit.

I don’t get Versus in my TV lineup and I’m not sure that my Center Ice TSN coverage will work through the playoffs here in the US. Versus has not had good HD coverage of any of their games so far and their broadcast quality looks like something from the 1980’s. Thanks NHL.  And to ESPN the “premier” sports network, a big thanks to you too for your zero coverage of hockey in any format, you suck. Fortunately for now the NHL Network and TSN (Canadian ESPN)  still have plenty to say about the Preds .  

If you’ve got XM radio tune into 204 for all hockey talk all the time. Pete, Terry, Paul McCann, Eklund and more familiar names and opinions can be found on that station. Also EJ Hradek who writes the hockey coverage for ESPN the Magazine is on there and a Preds supporter to boot!

NHL draft lottery was held last night to determine which of the bottom 14 teams would/could get a shot at the #1 draft pick for 2008( Tampa Bay won it) and to determine the team order for draft day.  Nashville actually was in the mix since they received Florida’s 1st round draft pick on the Vokoun trade last year and Florida finished the season out of the playoffs.  We could have moved up as high as 5th pick for 2008 (the highest we have ever had was 2nd and we chose David Legwand), but Nashville stayed put at #9. This will be in addition to our normal draft picks and position which will be determined at the end of the playoffs.