Nashville Predators: Ranking Their Biggest Rivals in Franchise History
5. Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-head record: 117 games, 36-49-(4)-10
Point percentage: .434%
Goal differential: -60
This series was an uphill battle early on the history of the Predators, and understandably so. The friendly expansion rules you see today weren’t the same for the Predators in 1998.
As for this particular rivalry, I wouldn’t call it a rivalry right away. The Red Wings were becoming a dynasty as they were back-to-back Stanley Cup champs and had a roster full of future Hall of Fame players.
Saying this was a David vs. Goliath matchup at the start is an understatement. The first time these two teams met was October 1998 in Detroit, and the Red Wings predictably made easy work of the Predators, winning 5-2.
However, the Predators didn’t back down despite being completely outmatched. They won the second meeting back in Nashville 5-3, despite there being more Red Wings fans than Predators fans. Or at least pretty close to that.
The Red Wings won that season series very easily, and they owned the series in the first few seasons.
But the rivalry started really taking off as the Predators kept getting better and eventually clashed with the Red Wings in their first playoff appearance in 2004.
They took the Red Wings to six games and battled really hard. They didn’t just roll over and be satisfied with making it in. I’m sure most diehard Red Wings fans weren’t considering the Predators rivals at that point, but it was a different as a Predators fan.
We wanted to slay the dragon.
This rivalry has fizzled out since the Red Wings moved to the Eastern Conference. I still include it in the top-five because those early days as the Predators were infants and the Red Wings were giants built a foundation.
4. San Jose Sharks
Head-to-head record: 76 games, 37-29-(2)-8
Point percentage: .553%
Goal differential: +12
This rivalry is fueled largely because of the playoff meetings, both are fairly young franchises and the fact that neither franchise has won a Stanley Cup.
However, the Sharks were a nasty and physically bruising team in those early playoff meetings with the Predators. They were easy to despise, and were a thorn in the side for the Predators trying to advance past the first round.
The Predators and Sharks first met in the playoffs in 2006, with the Sharks easily dismantling the Predators in five games. That one stung for Predators fans because we had already had a taste of making the playoffs, and now we wanted more.
The Sharks were vastly more talented than the Predators, especially offensively with players like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and others.
They were also loaded in net with Evgeni Nabokov, who the Predators just couldn’t solve.
Guess who the Predators played in the first round of the playoffs next season? Those pesky San Jose Sharks. The Predators just couldn’t figure them out, despite becoming a much more complete team with players like Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Shea Weber and Martin Erat.
The Sharks would eliminate the Predators in the playoffs once again in the second round of the playoffs in 2016. A grueling series that went seven games, and the Predators left everything on the ice to lose that final game on the road at San Jose.
So no redemption against the Sharks in the playoffs, but they do have the better point percentage over the years with 37 regulation wins to San Jose’s 29 regulation wins.
3. Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-head record: 76 games, 32-31-(2)-11
Point percentage: .507%
Goal differential: -19
Matchups between these two teams always get dirty no matter where the teams are in the standings. Even if the Ducks are buried in the standings, like this current season, they’re still going to dirty things up with the Predators.
This rivalry from the perspective of a Predators fan is also fueled due to some not so likeable players that have played for the Ducks over years. Players like Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler come to mind first.
But three heated playoff meetings also fueled this rivalry, beginning in 2011 when the Predators made franchise history to win their first playoff series. They eliminated the Ducks in six games, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
The Predators were finally over the hump after being eliminated in the first round so many times. Key players in that playoff run were Pekka Rinne, Joel Ward, David Legwand and Mike Fisher.
In 2016 the Predators would draw the Ducks in the first round, and eliminate the Ducks once again. Two playoff series wins, and both against the Ducks. This one went seven games and was as intense of a playoff series I had seen from the Predators in their history.
And then we have the moment none of us will ever forget when the Predators defeated the Ducks to go to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
They may not be division rivals, but this is a rivalry that won’t die easily. It’s one I circle on the schedule to attend or be tuned into because there’s usually always some type of fireworks.
2. St. Louis Blues
Head-to-head record: 118 games, 58-44-(4)-10
Point percentage: .559%
Goal differential: -19
This has all the ingredients to build a great rivalry. Nashville and St.Louis are geographically close, in the same division and have quality rosters.
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The Blues are the defending Stanley Cup champs, but this rivalry has been brewing before that. The Predators eliminated the Blues on their way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
That playoff series began building the foundation of a big time rivalry that is still building today. I can see this rivalry getting much bigger as the teams meet more in the playoffs, and battle each other in a very competitive Central Division.
The Predators have played the Blues more than any other team in franchise history with 118 all-time meetings. And this rivalry is going to keep growing to be even stronger in the coming years.
Assuming both teams have a window that will stay open for quite some time as being top contenders in the division, I see this rivalry becoming a major one.
1. Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-head: 117 games, 53-50-(4)-10
Point percentage: .513%
Goal differential: +2
Blackhawks fans probably wouldn’t put the Predators as their team’s biggest rival, but from my Predators perspective I have them there for many reasons.
First off, it’s pretty incredible that the Predators and Blackhawks have played each 117 times, and the goal differential is just two goals.
Other than the Blues, the Predators have played against no other team more than the Blackhawks.
After the Predators finally got that first playoff series win, the Blackhawks became the team that no one wanted to draw in the first round. They started building a dynasty of their own with so many elite superstars.
Then you have the controversy when ticket offices were tracking zip codes and addresses to keep Blackhawks fans out of Predators home games. That stirred the pot even more.
The Blackhawks eliminated the Predators in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, which was th fifth-straight time the Predators failed to get past the first round.
That elimination was particularly a painful one for me because I felt the Predators had a very strong team, and just ran into the best team in the league.
The Backhawks confirmed that by winning the Stanley Cup that year.
Then we have the glorious sweep of the Blackhawks as the Predators began their journey to the Stanley Cup Final. Even the most diehard fans were shocked to see the sweep.
I admittedly remember being crestfallen that the Predators drew the Blackhawks in the first round again. My confidence was low despite having a lot of faith in the Predators being a good team.
But there was this voodoo hex that I feared the Predators couldn’t get past. How wrong I was, and since then the Blackhawks have reverted to a team that’s rebuilding.
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This rivalry will take a long time to die off as they’re division rivals, and the Blackhawks have a nice, young nucleus that will make them contenders again in the near future.
Honorable mention: Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins
All historical records are courtesy of hockey-reference.com