I'm going to change mine to watching the Wings shake our hands before skating off the ice for the last time of the season.
Beauty.
For me, it has to be the only playoff Predators game I've ever seen live. Game 4 last year in Detroit. Bourque was a beast and the "legendary" detroit defense gave us this gem:
For me, it has to be the only playoff Predators game I've ever seen live. Game 4 last year in Detroit. Bourque was a beast and the "legendary" detroit defense gave us this gem:
1.My first game I ever saw. It was probably around 2000. It was a share your faith night and the group 4Him played after the game. Barbara Mandrell was there too. A lady from my church talked me into making the drive up and watching what I thought was going to be a beatdown by the Stars but to my surprise Turco was no match for the Preds. That's when I heard the you suck chant for the first time. I had a blast and suffice it to say I've made the two hour trip for a game probably 40-50 times now.
2. Has to be the 2004 playoffs against the Wings where Sully made his firsr playoff goal and they ended up winning the game. It was me, a co-worker, and a friend of mine spent an hour just trying to get into the ticketmaster line to snag up some tickets. IIRC it was the only victory of the series
3. Has to be Chris Mason's first NHL win. Vokoun had the flu and Mase played with stomach flu. Looked horrible first period and stood on his head the rest of the game. It wasn't until hearing on the radio after the game that he took an IV in between first and second period and played like a mad man
4.Gotta be Sully's return after the two years missed and the little clip on the megatron from Monsters Inc. "Go get 'em Mr. Sullivan!"
The Big W against the Jets last year. Drove up from the A with girlfriend and Dad. Seeing my new team crush the Franchise that brought me so much torture and anxiety through its 11 year existence was satisfying and provided a sense of closure after the emotional gauntlet the relocation put Thrashers fans through; I came to the realization that the Preds were what I always wanted the Thrashers to be and really solidified my support and interest in the team
Maybe a little less popular now, but I was thinking about him today and this moment...
Opening night 2003 vs Anaheim. Jordin Tootoo's first game, there was a large contingent from Nunavut in the house, they were so excited. A bunch of them had gone shirtless and painted their bodies, they were carrying Nunavut flags and running around the arena waving them during stoppages in play.
Wow! That would have been GREAT to see!
I would say my first t.v. Timeout ovation, it gave me goosebumps! What a fantastic tradition you all started there!
Exactly. It was 13 years of waiting at that point. And it's different for most of us then for fans of other teams. We have seen this team grow since it was a baby. We have been there cheering them on since the start. Going through all the firsts with this franchise. It's sentimental for us. Well for me at least. We get to experience a special, deep connection with this team. One that future Preds fans won't get to experience.
This.... I love all this remembering and all the videos. And being here for almost all of these. It does make it special, and I think that is why some of us are so committed. We have been here since it began! Everything seems more special since the rollercoaster summer.........
The Big W against the Jets last year. Drove up from the A with girlfriend and Dad. Seeing my new team crush the Franchise that brought me so much torture and anxiety through its 11 year existence was satisfying and provided a sense of closure after the emotional gauntlet the relocation put Thrashers fans through; I came to the realization that the Preds were what I always wanted the Thrashers to be and really solidified my support and interest in the team
As a former Thrashers fan myself, I could not agree more with everything you wrote about the Winnipeg game. It is 100% accurate to say that the Predators organization/team is EXACTLY what the Thrashers should have been, if they hadn’t been saddled with some of the worst ownership/management in the history of sports. I am happy to say that I am now 100% a die-hard Predators fan.
But for me, the #1 moment is the Game 5 clincher against Detroit. Everything about it. The multiple TV timeout standing ovations were incredible. Those standing ovations are one of the coolest things I have ever seen in sports.
I am a huge sports fan- follow many different teams, including Alabama football, so I have seen some big, great sporting events in my lifetime. But that Game 5 clincher against Detroit was THE best sporting event I have ever seen in person, period. And I took my brother and nephew to that game, and it was their first ever NHL game. They came away from it also saying it was the most exciting event they had ever been to.
It seems like a lifetime ago, back before the 2004 lockout. Legwand stole the puck shorthanded, broke in and scored on the Wings in our first home playoff game. The video is in the first post, and it's intense, but you just can't describe the feeling in the building that day.
ESPN was there to cover the series, since DET was the pinnacle of the NHL world and the Predators were an upstart to say the least. Before the game, the commentator was being interviewed, but he couldn't hear the studio in his headset, and the studio couldn't hear a word he was saying. It was so incredibly loud and raucous that he just shrugged his shoulders, and gave up. I saw the clip after I got home from the game, that's the only way I even knew it was going on.
The goal happened shortly after that and I have to say that the only time I've ever felt that building move that much (yes, move) was during one of the tornado warnings. There was an electricity in the building that just cannot be described.
I'm not trying to diminish any other moments, but all the years of being poked fun at, ridiculed and struggling to become a legitimate team culminated into that one moment so long ago. If you were there, you won't ever forget it.
The first time out ovation was close, but just not the same. I can still remember Weber absolutely crushing someone on the next shift after the ovation, but you could hear the crowd crescendo in the few seconds anticipating the hit. It was beautiful.
The fact that I had to surrender my season tickets a few years ago still weighs on me at times, and reading back through all of these makes me wish I still had them. It's great to have hockey back.
As a former Thrashers fan myself, I could not agree more with everything you wrote about the Winnipeg game. It is 100% accurate to say that the Predators organization/team is EXACTLY what the Thrashers should have been, if they hadn’t been saddled with some of the worst ownership/management in the history of sports. I am happy to say that I am now 100% a die-hard Predators fan.
But for me, the #1 moment is the Game 5 clincher against Detroit. Everything about it. The multiple TV timeout standing ovations were incredible. Those standing ovations are one of the coolest things I have ever seen in sports.
I am a huge sports fan- follow many different teams, including Alabama football, so I have seen some big, great sporting events in my lifetime. But that Game 5 clincher against Detroit was THE best sporting event I have ever seen in person, period. And I took my brother and nephew to that game, and it was their first ever NHL game. They came away from it also saying it was the most exciting event they had ever been to.
we are pleased to have you as a full-on preds fan, but I hope you understand when I saw you screenname I assumed you followed the DetroitRedWings so i apologize for subconsciously judging you
This.... I love all this remembering and all the videos. And being here for almost all of these. It does make it special, and I think that is why some of us are so committed. We have been here since it began! Everything seems more special since the rollercoaster summer.........
Exactly!!! It's amazing and I'm honored to he a part of it. This team is one of the biggest and most important things in my life.
As a former Thrashers fan myself, I could not agree more with everything you wrote about the Winnipeg game. It is 100% accurate to say that the Predators organization/team is EXACTLY what the Thrashers should have been, if they hadn’t been saddled with some of the worst ownership/management in the history of sports. I am happy to say that I am now 100% a die-hard Predators fan.
But for me, the #1 moment is the Game 5 clincher against Detroit. Everything about it. The multiple TV timeout standing ovations were incredible. Those standing ovations are one of the coolest things I have ever seen in sports.
I am a huge sports fan- follow many different teams, including Alabama football, so I have seen some big, great sporting events in my lifetime. But that Game 5 clincher against Detroit was THE best sporting event I have ever seen in person, period. And I took my brother and nephew to that game, and it was their first ever NHL game. They came away from it also saying it was the most exciting event they had ever been to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AintLifeGrand
The Big W against the Jets last year. Drove up from the A with girlfriend and Dad. Seeing my new team crush the Franchise that brought me so much torture and anxiety through its 11 year existence was satisfying and provided a sense of closure after the emotional gauntlet the relocation put Thrashers fans through; I came to the realization that the Preds were what I always wanted the Thrashers to be and really solidified my support and interest in the team
Quote:
Originally Posted by JR303
It seems like a lifetime ago, back before the 2004 lockout. Legwand stole the puck shorthanded, broke in and scored on the Wings in our first home playoff game. The video is in the first post, and it's intense, but you just can't describe the feeling in the building that day.
ESPN was there to cover the series, since DET was the pinnacle of the NHL world and the Predators were an upstart to say the least. Before the game, the commentator was being interviewed, but he couldn't hear the studio in his headset, and the studio couldn't hear a word he was saying. It was so incredibly loud and raucous that he just shrugged his shoulders, and gave up. I saw the clip after I got home from the game, that's the only way I even knew it was going on.
The goal happened shortly after that and I have to say that the only time I've ever felt that building move that much (yes, move) was during one of the tornado warnings. There was an electricity in the building that just cannot be described.
I'm not trying to diminish any other moments, but all the years of being poked fun at, ridiculed and struggling to become a legitimate team culminated into that one moment so long ago. If you were there, you won't ever forget it.
The first time out ovation was close, but just not the same. I can still remember Weber absolutely crushing someone on the next shift after the ovation, but you could hear the crowd crescendo in the few seconds anticipating the hit. It was beautiful.
The fact that I had to surrender my season tickets a few years ago still weighs on me at times, and reading back through all of these makes me wish I still had them. It's great to have hockey back.
I love reading posts like these. Absolutely love it
we are pleased to have you as a full-on preds fan, but I hope you understand when I saw you screenname I assumed you followed the DetroitRedWings so i apologize for subconsciously judging you
You aren't the first one to say that- I think I may have to change my screenname! <g>
Legwand's empty netter to seal Anaheim off. no doubt.
Yup. Amazing. Love that YouTube video.
Honorable mention for me (in no particular order):
1. Detroit ice storm game where we won 5-3.
2. First shutout where Vokoun jumped up and down at the end.
3. First TV timeout standing O. Seriously almost cried, just because there was such an absurd outpouring of emotion from the entire crowd!
I gotta add, there was this game a long time ago before the lockout. We won 1-0 in overtime, It was a goalie duel for 3 periods, but i forgot who it was we played.
Also if my memory is correct we won a game 1-0 against Det and the only goal was a Hamhuis blast.
I was pretty young for those games so I may be wrong about them, but those memories are stuck in my head and I wanna see if my youngin self absorbed the correct info.
Im lucky to have gone to so many games since day 1. Damn ive been to a **** ton. I can thank Goc Ya and Sk74 Snipes for a lot of those games.
Thats a good one, I sat behind the goal, it was like the puck was in slow motion and went right above Josephs glove. When it went past the goal line the place just exploded. That game was so tense, the Preds killed a fair amount of penalties too.
Thats a good one, I sat behind the goal, it was like the puck was in slow motion and went right above Josephs glove. When it went past the goal line the place just exploded. That game was so tense, the Preds killed a fair amount of penalties too.
It was great! I wish they had highlights of all these games somewhere. Would love to see that goal again
I still say beating Anaheim in Game 6 tops everything, but scoring 2 goals in 9 seconds in Game 3 against Detroit was absolutely epic. I also remember getting borderline emotional before the first home playoff game when the lights were turned down and the cheering started. There was so much pent up emotion to that point and we finally got over the hump and had a playoff game in our building. Although looking back I guess we didn't really have to wait that long......
Anyway this moment receives honorable mention, trailing only Game 6 of the Anaheim series (save the Radulov jokes):
Just remembered this one. Too bad our season ended two hours later.
Also...random....in 2010 I was an intern for the Panthers and we played them down there and won in OT when Bouillon scored and I made an awful lot of noise while getting the ire of a few people, little did they know I worked for their team. That was fun.
Only a couple to pick from... But when we beat the Jets
So true! Another Atlanta fan who made the trip up. I considered the Preds to be my Western Home Team even before we lost our team, so I've been a fan a few years. We are coming up for the opening game, can't wait.
Another memory I have is actually injuring my arm from the vigorous use of a rally towel in the 2008 playoff game lol. My husband still teases me about that.
