The 2016-17 season will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Nashville Predators fans. After sneaking into the playoffs as the second wild card spot and tying the Flames for the lowest point total of all the playoff teams, it appeared it would be a quick trip. However, the Predators shocked the hockey world, sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks, the best overall team in the West. It was only the second time in hockey history that the eighth seed had swept the first seed.
After stunning the hockey world, the Predators kept their hot streak going. In the second round, they beat up on the Blues, knocking them out of the playoffs in six games. This set them up for a matchup against the Pacific Division winner, Anaheim Ducks, for a trip to the Stanley Cup. In a hard-fought six-game series, the Predators shocked the world again, winning the series and heading to the finals for the first time in franchise history.
Although the Cup Finals didn't go the way the Predators had hoped, losing in six games to the Penguins, it was still a playoff run to remember. It turned players like Pekka Rinne, P.K. Subban, Filip Foresburg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Ryan Johansen into household names. However, the biggest thing this Cup run did was put some respect on how passionate Predators fans are.
How the hockey world fell in love with the Predators fanbase
This was the hockey world's first experience of how much Nashville loves the Predators and hockey. Despite making the playoffs nine times before this, they only won three playoff series. For weeks, we got a first-hand look at what hockey culture in this area was, and what traditions are popular among those fans.
Whether it was throwing catfish on the ice or singing during the anthem, people loved the passion they saw from Predators fans. However, nothing caught the attention of people more than the parties on Broadway before the game. Those parties were filled with live music, games, and giveaways. But the most famous part of these parties was the smashcar, an old used car that was covered in the opposing team's colors, which fans took turns hitting with a sledgehammer. This earned the team the nickname "Smashville".
These parties got fans hyped up before the game, and you could feel their energy from the broadcast. This created a huge home ice advantage as it felt like Bridgestone Arena was going to fall apart at the seams every night. It also helped the Predators on the ice, as in games played in Nashville, the Predators had a record of 9-2, with only one of their losses being by more than one goal.
This home ice advantage continues into the 2017-18 season. That season, the Predators won the Central Division with a record of 53-18-11 good for 117 points. A large reason for this success was their strong home record. They had a record of 28-9-4 at Bridgestone Arena, which is good for 60 points. Meaning that they earned more than half their points at home. If they weren't so dominant at home, there's a chance they don't win the Central, and who knows how this different playoff series plays out?
Without question, Predators fans have created one of the best home ice advantages in the NHL. They're also proof that a passion for hockey can exist in non-traditional markets.