The NHL knew that it would host an outdoor game in Music City. It was just a matter of timing.
As part of the NHL Stadium Series, the Nashville Predators will host the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Stanley Cup champion, on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium. The Predators will be playing in this outdoor game, having previously played in the 2020 Winter Classic, Dallas, and the Lightning in the first.
Steven Stamkos, a Tampa Bay center, said that “We’ve never experienced this experience and all.” It’s been a long wait and should have happened sooner, but it’s a fantastic event. You watch them as players all the time.”
The first intermission will feature country stars Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and 15 other singers. Hours before the puck drops, the fun begins in the parking lot with a fan fest.
The NHL took just a few months to bring an outdoor hockey game to a city which hosted its All-Star Weekend 2016 and witnessed tens of thousand of fans on the streets during 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Steve Mayer, chief content officer of the NHL, stated that Nashville was on the league’s radar since years.
Mayer stated, “Just like this city reacts to a major event, and the way that the Predators fans are into it, this was a no-brainer.” It was only a matter of time.
It is easy to pick a date when compared to the struggle to make the ice rink ready for the event. About 2 1/2 inches of rain fell on the stadium Tuesday; additional rain Thursday and Friday caused spot flooding in Nashville.
The 2020 Winter Classic in Dallas was a learning experience for the NHL. It saw the Predators play their first outdoor game. Weekend rains and temperatures of near 70 degrees forced teams to redo logos and lines. Derek King, senior manager of facilities operations for the NHL, stated that they had to adjust their approach.
Crews began to play earlier than in previous games.
The ice was also painted white, on top of half an inch of ice. Even though crews worked around the clock, the NHL was able add more ice Tuesday night. They used squeegees and water to push off the surface while freezing the rest.
Light rain is possible Saturday night. However, Predators center Ryan Johansen described the ice as fantastic after Friday’s practice.
Johansen stated, “Considering the weather this week with the rain it was pretty impressive.”
The pandemic has created a new rivalry between the Predators, Lightning and other NHL teams. This resulted in Tampa Bay and Nashville being placed in the Central Division. The Lightning won the series 6-2, before returning as Stanley Cup champion.
This is the first match between these two teams this season, with both teams returning to their respective conferences. Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic Division of the East and has won three straight. It is also 7-2-1 in the last 10.
Nashville has won the West’s first wild-card spot, and it has done so twice in a row. The Predators have a chance to prove what they can do after failing to make it past the first round since 2018.
John Hynes, Nashville coach, stated that no matter how hyped up or competitive, rivalry or nationally televised, the stakes are high and you must play your best.
There have been major changes to the roster since last season. Pekka Rinne, a long-serving goalie, has retired and Juuse Saros is now in charge. Nashville has retired Rinne’s number. The Predators will celebrate the retirement of Rinne’s No. 35 jersey on Thursday night.
“We’re professionals,” Johansen said. “We do this every single day, and when the puck drops it’s got got to be all dialed-in. That’s the bottom line. There’s a lot going on but it’s great fun. It’s going to be fun.”
