Best #5: 8-0 win over Detroit
In the 2008-2009 season the Predators absolutely demolished the Red Wings in one of their most celebrated season wins in their history. Detroit, a rival of the Preds and overall great NHL franchise could not stop the apparent firepower of the predators.
Worst #5: the Early Years
A new franchise will always have a very hard time hitting the ground running. Nashville was no exception. In the first five years they had a combined record of 145/199/58. They did not qualify for playoffs, finishing 14th, 15th, 10th, 14th and 15th in their first five years respectively. That being said, Nashville did quite well for an expansion team, hitting the 100 win plateau the second fastest out of the 1990's expansion teams.
Best #4: Playoff Appearance
After the first 5 seasons, the Predators made the playoffs for the first time in Franchise history. As they finished 8th in the conference they were set to face up against first seed, powerhouse and clear favorites the Detroit Red Wings.
Predators Pushed the Wings to game six before going down to the experienced wings. They used speed, high work ethic and ran four lines to win games 3 and 4 on home ice. In game four, starting goalie Tomas Vokoun recorded his career's first (and only to date) playoff shoutout.
In the 2008-2009 season the Predators absolutely demolished the Red Wings in one of their most celebrated season wins in their history. Detroit, a rival of the Preds and overall great NHL franchise could not stop the apparent firepower of the predators.
Worst #5: the Early Years
A new franchise will always have a very hard time hitting the ground running. Nashville was no exception. In the first five years they had a combined record of 145/199/58. They did not qualify for playoffs, finishing 14th, 15th, 10th, 14th and 15th in their first five years respectively. That being said, Nashville did quite well for an expansion team, hitting the 100 win plateau the second fastest out of the 1990's expansion teams.
Best #4: Playoff Appearance
After the first 5 seasons, the Predators made the playoffs for the first time in Franchise history. As they finished 8th in the conference they were set to face up against first seed, powerhouse and clear favorites the Detroit Red Wings.
Predators Pushed the Wings to game six before going down to the experienced wings. They used speed, high work ethic and ran four lines to win games 3 and 4 on home ice. In game four, starting goalie Tomas Vokoun recorded his career's first (and only to date) playoff shoutout.
Detroit vs Nashville, 2004 WQF game 3
Detroit vs Nashville 2004 WQF Game 4
Worst #4: Playoff HeartBreaks
After 2004 the Predators would go one to make the playoffs four more times without winning a series. Until the 2011 playoffs, the Predators would fall to their first round opponents in all five occasions, leading to many disappointments. Even in 2007 with recently acquired Peter Forseberg and home ice advantage, Nashville lost to San Jose in 6 games. Two of the biggest heartbreaks would come in 2008 where the highly contested series vs the Detroit Red Wings took a turn for the worse for the Predators when Arnott suffered a concussion while celebrating a goal. It was the second goal in 9 seconds that would lead to a Nashville victory in the game. However his loss was enough to derail the Predators and they would drop the series. Another momentum stopper came in 2010 when a dump in took an awkward bounce and fooled (then Rookie) Pekka Rinne tying the game in the dying minutes. The Blackhawks would go on to win the game in Overtime and continue to win the Stanley Cup.
Arnott suffers a concussion while celebrating
two goals in 9 seconds
two goals in 9 seconds
Fluke Goal in game 6 (2010)
Best #3: Goaltending
Mitch Korn has been the goaltending coach for the Predators for 7 years, and what a 7 years they have been. I would argue that few teams have been as comfortable in nets as the Predators have been since Thomas Vokoun (bias). The Predators have always found great depth in between the pipes, most recently with Pekka Rinne, but as well with Ellis, Mason and Vokoun, all of whom currently have starting positions in the NHL, or at least did in 2010-2011 season.
Worst #1: The Lack of Respect
Constantly, the Predators are looked down on by the followers across the nation. For a hockey team that has made the playoffs 6 out of the last 7 years, features the best defensive pairing in the league and now has signed a goalie to the largest goaltending contract in the NHL there are still very few people that remember that they aren't an AHL team. But our time will come, the other benefit of being a Predators fan is earning everything you get, and feeling proud to wear gold.
Mitch Korn has been the goaltending coach for the Predators for 7 years, and what a 7 years they have been. I would argue that few teams have been as comfortable in nets as the Predators have been since Thomas Vokoun (bias). The Predators have always found great depth in between the pipes, most recently with Pekka Rinne, but as well with Ellis, Mason and Vokoun, all of whom currently have starting positions in the NHL, or at least did in 2010-2011 season.
Pekka Rinne Tribute
Worst #3: Saying goodbye
Unfortunately it is no secret that the Predators have budget constraints. Each off season the Nashville fans are forced to say good bye to players that have been in the system for years. We develop them to such great skill and then can't afford to keep them around.
However I feel like this is where Nashville fans stand out from other hockey fans. We hold onto our players in our hearts. Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Marek Zidlicky, Tomas Vokoun and a plathora of other players receive tribute videos on the big screen at their first return to Bridgestone. Always, Always followed by a standing ovation.
One a Predator, always a predator.
Unfortunately it is no secret that the Predators have budget constraints. Each off season the Nashville fans are forced to say good bye to players that have been in the system for years. We develop them to such great skill and then can't afford to keep them around.
However I feel like this is where Nashville fans stand out from other hockey fans. We hold onto our players in our hearts. Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Marek Zidlicky, Tomas Vokoun and a plathora of other players receive tribute videos on the big screen at their first return to Bridgestone. Always, Always followed by a standing ovation.
One a Predator, always a predator.
Best #2: The Fans
The Fans of the Nashville Predators have become something to fear! Known as one of the loudest buildings in the NHL, the Nashville crowd is always there to pump up the team. They have mastered the art of the towel wave, where they will stand for the duration of TV timeouts and salute the players. In the 2011 Playoff run they waited at the Airport to greet the team as they returned from Anaheim and Vancouver. Nashville is frequently regarded as an unconventional market, but slowly the winds of change are sprouting a rich city of hockey history.
Worst #2: The fans (before)
The Fans of the Nashville Predators have become something to fear! Known as one of the loudest buildings in the NHL, the Nashville crowd is always there to pump up the team. They have mastered the art of the towel wave, where they will stand for the duration of TV timeouts and salute the players. In the 2011 Playoff run they waited at the Airport to greet the team as they returned from Anaheim and Vancouver. Nashville is frequently regarded as an unconventional market, but slowly the winds of change are sprouting a rich city of hockey history.
Nashville 2 minute standing ovations
Preds Teammates discuss the fans
Saddly it wasn't always this intense. In the early season Nashville had a hard time holding onto a market. There were relocation talks in 2003 and 2004. The still expanding team couldn't produce the victories or the players to keep Predators fans interested in the game. Wow have times changed. Because of great work from Smashville Alumni, the team was able to stay in Tennessee and hockey in the state has since blossomed.
Best #1: The Big Names
NHL Greats like Peter Forseberg, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Steve Sullivan have all joined the Predators roster for bit of a season, some even stayed around a bit longer.
The Predators have a great development system and most of their best talent is developed within. Players such as Shea Weber, Ryan Sutter, Jordin Tootoo, Joel Ward, Martin Erat and more were all drafter by the predators and worked their ranks through the Predators system before cracking the starting lineup. This in itself is amazing for the Predators, but it is also always exciting to see big names join the roster, even if it is only for a limited time.
Best #1: The Big Names
NHL Greats like Peter Forseberg, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Steve Sullivan have all joined the Predators roster for bit of a season, some even stayed around a bit longer.
The Predators have a great development system and most of their best talent is developed within. Players such as Shea Weber, Ryan Sutter, Jordin Tootoo, Joel Ward, Martin Erat and more were all drafter by the predators and worked their ranks through the Predators system before cracking the starting lineup. This in itself is amazing for the Predators, but it is also always exciting to see big names join the roster, even if it is only for a limited time.
Forsberg's first Predators goal
Kariya's Predators Commercial
Constantly, the Predators are looked down on by the followers across the nation. For a hockey team that has made the playoffs 6 out of the last 7 years, features the best defensive pairing in the league and now has signed a goalie to the largest goaltending contract in the NHL there are still very few people that remember that they aren't an AHL team. But our time will come, the other benefit of being a Predators fan is earning everything you get, and feeling proud to wear gold.
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