Nashville Predators: A Predators Halloween History

Though the Nashville Predators will not play on October 31 this year, we thought it apropos to look back on all the frightening face-offs since 1998.

Oh, how sentimental the holidays make us! Halloween may not fully fit the “holiday” mold but the entire country treats it as such. Decorated houses, creative concoctions of delectable delight, the gleaming shimmer of candy laden hope visible in the eyes of children. Yes, it certainly does feel like a special day, especially when the Nashville Predators take to the ice.

Unfortunately, October 31, 2017 will not provide host to Music City’s favorite winter warriors. Yes, it certainly does feel like a let down. But do not be downcast friends, for the wait will only be but an extra night. While we wait in anticipation for November 1 and the next Nashville Predators game, let us look back on our heritage. We must reflect on how Hockey Tonk has fared on Halloween.

Since their inaugural season in 1998, the Nashville Predators have played ten times on October 31. In those games, the team is 4-3-3. Despite the winning record overall, the last six years have proven tough for the Predators, leading to a 0-1-3 record.

Since the turn of the decade, the Halloween game has appeared to suffer from a kind of hex that, alas, will not have a chance to be broken this year. Perhaps it may benefit us to understand the highs and lows of playing on the last day in October.

Here is the Nashville Predators’ Halloween record by the numbers.

4 – The Number of Goaltenders To Start On Halloween

Over the course of ten games, four different goaltenders have started for the Nashville Predators.

Mike Dunham will always be the original goaltender. Drafted from the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, Dunham played 217 games for the Predators before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2002. In his two Halloween appearances, Dunham stopped 54 shots and let in six goals.

Tomas Vokoun: Some say “Song 2” by Blur with “Vokoun” inserted in place of “woo-ooh” can still be heard echoing in the rafters of Bridgestone Arena near section 317. Based on the way Tomas Vokoun played while in Nashville, I believe them. Over the course of 383 games with the Nashville Predators, Vokoun maintained a .913 save percentage and 2.54 GAA. In his three Halloween games, Vokoun stopped 63 shots and allowed nine goals.

Carter Hutton: Never a number one goaltender for the Predators, Carter Hutton saw several years of back-up duty for Pekka Rinne. Despite showing flashes of potential, Hutton wanted a better chance of becoming the main net-minder and went to St. Louis in 2016. During his only Halloween appearance, he allowed five goals on 40 shots.

Pekka Rinne: The true representation of excellence in net. Pekka Rinne continues to impress, even after 516 games with the Nashville Predators. We hope to see the big man for a few more seasons and hope at least one of them contains a Halloween game. Rinne started four times on October 31, stopping 108 shots and allowing 15 goals.

3 – The Number of Players Tied For The Most Predators Goals On Halloween

In ten Halloween games, the most goals scored by a single Predators player in a game is two. The Nashville Predators have never been shut out on Halloween and performances like the following are the reason why.

Kimmo Timonen (October 31, 2001): In a 2001 match-up against the Minnesota Wild, Kimmo Timonen scored two goals in a 6 – 4 victory. He would go on to score 13 goals that season, a career best for him. Players like Timonen paved the way for defensive scoring in a young Predators franchise.

Patric Hornqvist (October 31, 2011):  The always hard working Swede put it all on the ice in 2011, scoring two goals against the Chicago Black Hawks in a 4 – 5 overtime loss. In a frustrating game that ended in a close loss, Patric Hornqvist‘s play stood out tremendously. 2011 proved to be his second highest scoring season with Nashville as he put away 27 goals. Always digging and never giving up, Hornqvist was a big reason why the Predators finished with 104 points at the end of the 2011-12 season.

James Neal (October 31, 2014): In a tough 4-3 loss to Calgary in 2014, James Neal provided half of the Nashville Predators’ four goals. Neal, now shining with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, makes on offensive impact in every line-up he has joined. Against the Flames on Halloween, Neal scored his second of the night half-way into the third period to pull the Predators within one point. In his time with the Predators, Neal scored some big goals that allowed the team to stay in the game.

1 – The Number Of Predators Games It Takes To Make Halloween That Much Better

Why can’t we have a Halloween game every year?! What could be better than taking the kids out to trick-or-treat and, after taking the annual candy tax from your citizens, flipping on some hockey. We’re talking about the sport that made Jason famous!

The Nashville Predators have not done well in recent Halloween games and that needs to be righted immediately. 0-1-3 (all road games) cannot be the Predators’ Halloween legacy. From 1998 through 2010, the Predators went 4-2 on Halloween night. In a season where inconsistency defines the Western Conference champions, a Halloween win would have done some good.

But complaining does not solve the problem. Campaigning does, however. There are marches and protests for just about everything these days. How about one to urge the schedule makers to give us a Halloween game in Nashville next year? I’m thinking picket signs, a bull-horn, some bandannas to cover our faces, the whole nine yards.

Next: Kevin Fiala playing well, goals will come

What does a guy have to do in order to get some Predators hockey on Halloween around here?