Nashville Predators to host Colorado Avalanche in 2009-10 home opener

The entire 2009-10 NHL regular season schedule is due to be released tomorrow, but I can pass word along that the Nashville Predators home opener will be Thursday, October 8th vs. the Colorado Avalanche. The three Eastern Conference "wild card" teams, which the Preds will play both at home and on the road, will be Atlanta, Florida, and New Jersey.

So be sure to start trash-talking with those Thrashers fans who are sure to make the short road trip from Atlanta, start working on those homemade signs welcoming Ville Koistinen in his return to the Sommet Center, and load up on the caffeine so you can stay awake when Jacques Lemaire's trap-fest comes to town.

Check back tomorrow for the full schedule, as well as my NHL Super Schedule which should come out a few hours later. It includes details such as miles traveled by team, number of back-to-back games, etc.