Wow. What a night! What a game! I just got home from the Predators home opener and I feel like I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew. I’m really going to hate myself at 6AM when my alarm goes off, but the Predators just put all of Smashville through such an emotional roller coaster that I don’t think I could sleep if I tried. So I’m sacrificing for you guys and doing a recap of the most anticipated home opener in Nashville’s history before I try and get a few hours of sleep.
You could feel the buzz around Bridgestone Arena from the moment you stepped through the doors tonight. The fans were ready to celebrate the Preds run to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, and they brought their “A” game. From the moment the Preds took the ice in warm ups, it felt like a playoff atmosphere. Smashville earned the reputation for being a rowdy crowd during the Playoffs last year and picked up right where they left off last season. The crowd was ready to raise the Western Conference Championship banner.
Pete Weber emceed the ceremonies and was great as usual. He talked of the very first game in Preds history and how it all led up to this moment. Several fans, including me, were in attendance that first night in 1998 and you could tell that this celebration was a long time coming. The party was on and then OH MY GOD, THAT’S MIKE FISHER’S MUSIC. Yes, the recently retired Predators captain (and current nominee for SoBro of the Year, so go vote people) made a surprise appearance to take part in the celebration. The building erupted.
After bringing Fisher out, he along with the new Preds captain, Roman Josi, introduced a highlight video from the playoff run last season. If you didn’t have chills at that moment, then you’re dead. So many great moments and franchise firsts. It was just unbelievable to relive those games.
After the video, it was time to raise the banner. It was the perfect culmination to the celebration. Seeing that banner rise to the rafters gave Smashville even more validation that we belong among the elite teams in the NHL. It was perfectly capped off with the Preds’ anthem from the playoffs last year, Glorious Domination. The fans were fired the hell up, and the party was just getting started.
Oh yeah, they also played a game tonight, too. The Preds came out buzzing after the banner celebration. You could tell they had an extra little jump and were feeding off the fans. They had chance after chance but just couldn’t bury one. Elliot, the Flyers goaltender stood tall in net to keep Philly in the game early. They dominated the first part of the opening period and finally broke through. Craig Smith made a beautiful shot from between the circles on the power play to put the Preds up 1-0. That’s how the first period would end.
It was more of the same to start the second period. The Flyers pushed back a little to take some momentum away. But, eventually, Pontus Aberg fired a shot that Elliot couldn’t handle. The rebound went right to Scottie Hartnell, who one timed the puck into the back of the net. It was a smart play by Aberg to just put the puck on net to see what happens, and it ended with a 2-0 Preds lead. A few minutes later Mattias Ekholm drove the net and Nick Bonino cleaned up in front to give the Preds a 3-0 lead. It was again a case of putting the puck on net and good things happening.
The good feelings wouldn’t last long though. The Flyers came storming back in a big way. Scoring three goals before the end of the period, including the first career goal for the 2nd overall pick in last summers draft Nolan Patrick. All the momentum was on the Flyers’ side with the Preds looking a little lost.
The third period started with both teams looking desperate to score that essential goal that would give them the lead. The Flyers were able to get that goal on a breakaway off a turnover at the blueline. The Preds needed to reset and quick. Unfortunately, instead they marched themselves into the box with untimely penalties. Eventually, the Flyers burned them and took a 5-3 lead with around half a period left. Things weren’t looking good for Nashville, who were trying to avoid an 0-3 start to the season.
Filip Forsberg wasn’t having any of that. Almost immediately after going down 5-3, Forsberg took a beautiful pass from Ryan Johansen and buried in top shelf on Elliot to make it 5-4 with just a few minutes left. Sam Girard, who was very impressive in his NHL debut, also picked up his first career point with an assist on the goal.
The Preds needed a break and they got it when Philadelphia took two concurrent penalties to give the Predators a 5-on-3 power play for a full two minutes with just over three minutes left in the game. Peter Laviolette gambled and pulled Pekka Rinne to give the Preds the extra man and it paid off big time. Forsberg fired a pass across the crease to Scott Hartnell who jammed away and finally got the puck past Elliot to tie it up. Bridgestone went absolutely nuts, but immediately got that nervous feeling when Philly challenged for the play being offsides.
You could have heard a pin drop while the referees were reviewing they play. But, they eventually confirmed the call on the ice as a good goal. And as a result of the failed challenge, the Flyers were assessed a delay of game penalty to put the Preds back on the 5-on-3. Forsberg once again played the part of hero and sniped a shot right between Elliot’s head and shoulder to put the Preds up 6-5 with only 35 seconds left. It was one hell of a shot. If Forsberg can consistently fire the puck like that, watch out. He will be lighting up the league this year.
Like I said, it was a roller coaster of emotions this evening. From the banner being raised, to the Preds allowing 5 straight goals after leading 3-0, to the comeback with 35 seonds remaining in the game. It was a damn party all night, and a great night to be in Smashville.
Herbie Brooks is the Lead Hockey Analyst for SoBros Network. He knows three things: beating Commies, winning Gold Medals, and having great hair. Follow him on Twitter: @SoBroHerbie_B
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