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Nashville Predators: Looking Back at Their Best Starts to the Season

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Peter Laviolette and assistant coach Kevin McCarthy of the Nashville Predators wear lavender ties for Hockey Fights Cancer night against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 15, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Peter Laviolette and assistant coach Kevin McCarthy of the Nashville Predators wear lavender ties for Hockey Fights Cancer night against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 15, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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1 Dec 2001: Left wing Cliff Ronning #7 of the Nashville Predators shoots the puck during the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Predators 4-2. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /NHLI/Getty Images
1 Dec 2001: Left wing Cliff Ronning #7 of the Nashville Predators shoots the puck during the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Predators 4-2. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /NHLI/Getty Images /

Going way back

How about going back to the early years when the Predators franchise was still in its infancy?

In just the franchise’s third year, Nashville was able to manage a 4-1-1 start; back when ties were still scored in the

Yes, a 4-1-1 start is petty to say the least, but at this time the Predators had very little expectations of doing anything special. Unlike modern Smashville hockey, playing at a competitive level and occasionally getting an upset against teams like the Red Wings was all we could hope for early on.

Ironically enough, it was an overtime win over the aforementioned Detroit Red Wings that capped off the 4-1-1 start before the team reverted back down to reality and eventually missed the postseason by finishing 10th in the Western Conference.

On a more positive note, this was a blue-collar team that featured captain Tom Fitzgerald, Cliff Ronning, and a young David Legwand; so the fact they were our first lineup to the 80-point mark was a pleasant treat for the Predators early supporters.

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