Keys to Watch

Raising the Banner

Tonight is a night that has been twenty years in the making. For the first time in the history of the franchise, the Nashville Predators will be raising a championship banner at 501 Broadway. Granted, it’s not the banner that the organization was shooting for, but it is a championship won by the organization. The emotions will be free-flowing tonight, especially with individuals that have been involved with the organization since day one. The energy will be electric in the building tonight, which hopefully leads to the first victory of the season. The Predators are currently winless on the 2017-18 campaign with an 0-2 record.

Drop the Panicking

Many Nashville Predators fans, like many of professional sports teams, need to calm down. The team is only two games into the season and panic has set in. Yes, the Predators are 0-2-0 on the season. They are currently giving up four goals per game. Defensively, they are struggling and could be without Roman Josi and Colton Sissons, based upon the most recent projected lineup, and are currently “game-time” decisions. The Predators have been notoriously better at home than on the road, especially last season (24-9-8). Nashville started the season last year at 3-5-3, so its time to chill out and relax.

Slowing Simmonds

Nashville will have a tough task tonight in slowing down Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds. He has been on fire through the first three games of the season. Simmonds scored a hat trick on opening night, the only time in Flyers history. He’s scored four goals in three games, two game-winning goals, and was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. Simmonds has been one of the best in the NHL over the first week of the season, and the Predators will need to keep a close check on him or he could continue his hot streak in the Music City.

The Nashville Predators will bring back the “playoff” atmosphere to Broadway t0night to raise the first banner in franchise history. Be sure to catch all of the action on Fox Sports-Tennessee or you can listen live on 102.5 The Game. Puck drops at 7:00 pm!

Brandon Eldridge

Brandon was born and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee but eventually moved to McMinnville, Tennessee after marrying his wife, Lindsey. He is a graduate of Cumberland University (GO BULLDOGS) with a Master of Arts in Education. Growing up in Middle Tennessee, hockey was not an interest early in life. He is a hockey convert. His introduction to hockey was through free tickets from his grandmother for a game between the Predators and the Dallas Stars. After this initial introduction, it has truly been an obsession. Along with his wife and son, Brandon goes to as many games as he can. From statistics to player interactions, he has become the ultimate hockey fan. He is a proud father, teacher, history nerd, music-lover, and true sports fanatic!