Nashville Predators Season Opener!

Hockey is so good that sometimes, it's just not enough to go to one season opener! We are fortunate enough to live about 4 hours away from Nashville, so we frequently go up there for games. I consider them my western home team. I was super excited because they were having a street party with music, free icecream and a red carpet event where the players roll up in nice cars and suits and walk down a red carpet. They were also giving away free Tshirst for opening night. Also, they were opening against the Ducks! I've been dying to see Teemu Selanne and know that my time is limited with that project.


As soon as we get checked into our hotel, we head out to the arena. I want a good spot for pictures! We are sitting at the redlight on Broadway and 9th when I hear tires screaming and then CRASH! Smashville indeed!



Mayhem had found us.


The guy that hit us was driving on a suspended license, and not for the first time. The first thing out of his mouth when it happened was "can we take care of this ourselves? I'm driving on a suspended license." Sorry Dbag, gotta call the cops. I WAS super jealous of his Preds license plate though.



By the time we get to the arena, this is about as close as we could get. Whatever, I didn't care. What was really upsetting me was that we bought tickets through Ticket Exchange and when we went to Will Call they weren't there. We drove 4 hours, got in an accident and I'm unmedicated (my husband forgot the toiletry bag with my Paxil in it) DO NOT FUCK WITH MY TICKETS.



One bright spot of happiness, Gnash was supposed to make a grand entrance to officially open the doors for the start of the season. He repelled down the needle of the Bridgestone Arena!



Woo Hoo! Look at him go.



He's no Thrash, but Gnash does kick some pretty serious ass.

Fortunately for the staff at Bridgestone as well as the rest of the city, our tickets were there when we went back to Will Call. We got our free Tshirts and headed down to the ice. For some reason Nashville's lighting and my camera just do not get along. So even though I took a bazillion pics, I didn't get many good ones.


George Parros, the smartest bad-ass in the league.



One of the main reasons I'm here, the Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne!



I'm not the only one there to see Teemu! He was thankful and tossed them a few pucks.



Jonas Hiller in net. I didn't think it was possible for me to hate his new mask as much as I did the one last season. I was wrong.



A side view of Hiller's boring mask. Yeah yeah yeah, I know it's a specially made carbonite safety thing...can't they paint that shit?



What up, Getzy!?!



Some Brookbank candy for my buddy, Candace.



I love it when the players are actually around my age. Getting harder and harder to find!



I wish I had George Parros in the car with me when we got hit. Imagine asking him if we can skip the cops. Imagine seeing him get out of the car you just hit!



He is a beautiful man!



As is George! I wish I had my fake mustaches to wear for Parros.



One of my favorite pics of the "Flash."



Teemu putting one in on Hiller.



More skating around being Teemu-tastic.



One of the newer Ducks, Vorros.



Game on! We had pretty good seats, but they were a bit crowded so I got a few heads in my way, but it was an awesome crowd.


Pekka makes a stop.



The guys having a discussion, maybe asking how each other's summers went.



Assume the position, Hiller. Pretty much he got bent over all night. Even letting in 4 goals, Hiller had a .918 SV% after facing 49 shots. He faced 43 shots the night before! Nothing like a 92 shot weekend. He was having a weekend like I was!



Now they blasted Hiller's net.



Newly appointed captain, Shea Weber defending the zone. Shea has a canon of a shot. Some of you Thrashers fans might remember last season when the Preds came to Blueland and he pub the puck THROUGH the net.



Pekka showing off his great lateral movement.



Gnash no only repelled down the tower of the Bridgestone Arena, he swung down from the rafters before the start of the game! He also had some intermission duties.



At least he had some help!



Back to the game! Joel Ward doing his part to make Hiller's night shitty.



Somewhere under this mass of humanity is a goalie. Pekka was pissed and throwing punches himself. Unfortunately after a few more minutes of play, Pekka skated off and Lindbach took his place.



Running Pekka wasn't enough, they busted Lindback's mask off his head, too.



Miller making his 11ty billionth save. As many saves as he and Pekka/Lindback made, the posts made about the same. There was a lot of shots hitting the posts.



Action behind Lindback



Hiller assumes the position again.



Hiller trying to peek around Sullivan.



Preds win 4-1! Free frosties for everyone. Woot Woot.



I love going to Nashville. This city gets it. It's not a traditional hockey market, but they love their team here. Look at this...front page of the newspaper talking. We thought our goalie was dead and it barely made it on the sports page.



The Bridgestone Arena was packed, totally sold out with 17,000+ people. It's such a great atmosphere. There is way more energy here than at Phillips. There are also not anywhere near the amount of douchebags. Everyone knows the sport and is into the game.


Even those not at the arena are into it. The lady that checked us into our hotel was jealous we were going. The security guard at the airport where we exchanged the car had been listening to it on the radio. One of the waiters at the Loveless Cafe where we had breakfast saw my Thrashers shirt and we started talking about hockey. This is why I will be back. Even after my horrible day in Nashville, it's a good hockey town.