All Nashville Predators Games to be Televised This Season

Finally, the Nashville Predators have worked out a TV schedule so simple even Clay Travis can figure it out.

Nashville Predators 2013 Schedule Released!

Now that the NHL Lockout is finally over, teams are releasing the schedule for the 2013 regular season. For the Nashville Predators, that includes a two-week road trip after the first two games take place at Bridgestone Arena...

2013 NHL Schedule Coming Saturday Morning?

There has been a great deal of chatter going that the 2013 NHL schedule will be released Saturday morning, so check in before you head down to Bridgestone Arena for the Preds' Kickoff Celebration. They're holding an open practice between 10:00 a.m. & noon, and there will all sorts of festivities.

Meanwhile, NBC Sports has released their first commercial hyping the return of hockey to its airwaves:

Need a new Nashville Predators hat? Shop here & support OTF...

Hmm... the NHL may be back on NBC, but (as is all too usual) I'm not seeing any Nashville Predators...

Report: Preds to Open at Home vs. Columbus on January 19

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch brings us news about the Nashville Predators' opener:

Puck-rakers: Barring #NHL schedule tweak, #CBJ will open in Nashville on 1/19, host Detroit in Nationwide 2 days later bit.ly/13jxnOS

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 10, 2013

Well, there was a lot of chatter about trying to have teams open against rivals, so there you go...

2013 NHL Schedule: Regular Season to End in Late April, Playoffs Late June

Details are dribbling out slowly but surely as the NHL continues to work on their schedule for 2013.

Sportsnet's John Shannon provides the latest details via Twitter:

NHL Regular Season to start Jan 19, ends April 27. SC Playoffs start May 1, could go as long as June 28. #notjuly

This is an important point, because as teams in warmer climates drive deep into the playoffs, ice conditions can become more of a concern as you get into the sweltering heat of summer.

TSN's Bob McKenzie Reports on 48-Game Format

If the NHL had been able to assemble a 50-game schedule, the numbers would have worked out nicely (5 games against each division opponent, plus 3 vs. the other conference opponents = 50 games). Since they can only manage 48, however, things won't quite balance out like that, as TSN's Bob McKenzie reports:

In a 48-game schedule, there'll be no play between conferences. East plays East and West plays West. But here's the schedule matrix for 48:

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 8, 2013

Each team plays: 4 games vs. two Divisional opponents (8); 5 games vs. two divisional opponents (10); 3 games vs 10 Conference rivals (30).

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 8, 2013

In the Central Division, you can bet that teams will be hoping to draw Columbus as their 5-game opponent, given the Blue Jackets' standing relative to the rest of the pack. Stay tuned for the release of the full 2013 NHL schedule, which should come in the next few days.

2013 Nashville Predators Schedule: 48 Games Looks Likely, Starting January 19

While there was hope that perhaps the NHL might be able to salvage a 50-game regular season schedule, it appears now that 48 will be the magic number, with the puck dropping January 19th.