Nashville Predators: Five Most Anticipated Home Games of 17-18 Season

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The season will be here before we know it, yet not soon enough. We look at the five most anticipated home games for the Nashville Predators next season.

Last season, the Nashville Predators shocked the world and made a deep run into the playoffs. Having a home record of 24 win, 9 loses and 8 ties did not hurt at all. And selling out Bridgestone Arena for every games was a nice touch.

It is currently the middle of July and we have officially hit the dog days of summer. It’s been over a month since there has been any hockey played and it is safe to say that withdrawals are starting to kick in. With this in mind, it is never too early to look ahead at next season’s schedule and pick out the games we are most excited for.

Enjoy this list of my most anticipated home games of the 2017-18 season.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 01: Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee speaks to the team after a joint scrimmage at the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp on July 1, 2017 at the Las Vegas Ice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5 – Vegas Golden Knights (Friday, December 8th)

The Vegas Golden Knights will make their first ever visit to Nashville on Friday, December 8^th. This game brings in excitement itself just because Vegas is a brand new team. It is always an exciting moment when fans get to witness a first. However, due to the expansion draft this game will have a bit more significance to it.

The Predators were forced to make a difficult decision at the expansion draft when they chose to protect Calle Järnkrok over James Neal. David Poile was unable to make a deal with George McPhee and thus, the Golden Knights selected Neal to their club. Neal’s time in Nashville was cherished and the fans will be excited to welcome him back in December.

NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 22: Viktor Arvidsson #38 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Anaheim Ducks in Game Six of the Western Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 22, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4 – Anaheim Ducks (Saturday, December 2nd)

When you think about the Predators and their rivals the first team that comes to mind is the Chicago Blackhawks. However, for two teams that do not play in the same division Anaheim and Nashville have a pretty decent rivalry of their own. Come December 2^nd, Bridgestone Arena will be bumping, welcoming their old friends back to town.

Nashville and Anaheim have played each other in the playoffs three times since 2010. In those three matchups, the Predators have won all of them. Nashville has celebrated success against the Ducks, but there is still plenty of hatred between the two clubs. Most notably between Ryan Johansen and Ryan Kessler. They did not get along during the playoffs and that will likely trickle over to next season.

Anaheim is fun team for Predators’ fans to go see, mainly because they are easy to root against. Even before the previous two playoff matchups, “Perry is a sissy” chants would echo all throughout the arena. The rivalry is nothing new, but last season’s results will add to the joy and excitement on December 2^nd.

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Johnny Oduya #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks watches as Viktor Arvidsson #38 of the Nashville Predators takes a shot during the first period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

3 – Chicago Blackhawks (Tuesday, November 28th)

I can picture the Nashville Predators’ fans on November 28^thnow. Chicago will be in town and there will be a plethora of fans with their brooms on Broadway. This will be the first time the Blackhawks will be back in Nashville since game four in the playoffs and it will be a ruckus one.

Following a sweep in last season’s first round of the playoffs, Nashville holds all the bragging rights. For years, Chicago has looked down on Nashville as if they are like their little brother. Well, nothing is more embarrassing than when your little brother gets one over on you. And now Nashville will get ample opportunities to make sure Chicago knows it, starting with the home game on November 28^th.

NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 4: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers faces off against Mike Fisher #12 of the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on December 4, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2 – Philadelphia Flyers (Tuesday, October 10th)

At first glance, you might be wondering why the Philadelphia Flyers made this list. Nashville and Philadelphia do not share much of a history, other than the whole Shea Weber fiasco a few years back. However, at second glance there is a pretty good reason why the Flyers are the second most anticipated home game of 2017.

The Flyers are on this list because Tuesday, October 10^th is the first home game in Smashville. There are two regular season games played before this one, but this will be the first chance Nashville will have to play in front of their home crowd since the Stanley Cup Finals. It has, and it will continue to be a long offseason, but the countdown to October 10^th will make it all worth it.

DALLAS, TX – APRIL 6: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators handles the puck against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on April 6, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Honorable Mention – Dallas Stars (Tuesday, October 12th)

The second home game of the season deserves an honorable mention spot. This will be the day that the Dallas Stars will be in town. Even though these two teams do not share a huge rivalry, this will be the first divisional opponent to visit Bridgestone Arena next season.

Another reason fans might be anxious for this game is because of a former Predator who signed with Dallas during free agency. Alexander Radulov signed a five-year deal which will put him back in the central division. While he is not the main reason the Dallas Stars are on the list, Radulov returning to Nashville is a nice bonus.

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 05: Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) scores past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) during game 4 of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on June 5, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1 – Pittsburg Penguins (Saturday, November 11th)

The Nashville Predators will get their rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins the second game of the season. However, they will have to wait another month after that to get that rematch at home. Considering how the season ended for Nashville in 2017, Smashville will be out in full force for this one.

A few things have changed since the Stanley Cup Finals. For one, Nick Bonino has switched teams and James Neal is no longer a Predator. Regardless of any more changes that may happen there will be plenty of tension built for this game. P.K. Subban and Sidney Crosby had their fair share of trash talk in the playoffs and I would expect that to carry over. Not only will the fans be counting down the days to this game, but I bet there are more than a few players who have marked this date on their calendar, as well.

Next: Now is the time to win the Central Division

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