Bridgestone Arena Ranks Among World Leaders In First-Quarter Reports

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Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Bridgestone Arena has ranked among world leaders in Pollstar and Billboard‘s 2022 first-quarter reports, covering the months of January, February and March.

“We are thrilled to see Bridgestone Arena rank among the top venues in the world,” says Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Venues David Kells. “Thank you to the touring professionals, artists, agents, managers and promoters for trusting us to host your events.”

The home of the Nashville Predators ranks 11th in Pollstar‘s 2022 First Quarter Worldwide Top 100 Arenas, grossing $11,609,408 in revenue and selling 147,587 tickets. Additionally, according to Billboard‘s Boxscore for Top Venues in January 2022, Bridgestone Arena ranks fourth for venues with 15,001 or more capacity.

Bridgestone Arena ended the month of January with six shows, $3,858,591 in total revenue and 53,959 total attendees.

A nominee for the Pollstar Arena of the Decade, Bridgestone Arena has 13 consecutive Pollstar Arena of the Year nominations, winning the award in 2014 and 2017.

The arena has a huge two weeks ahead as it hosts six Preds games and seven concerts or other live events.

Roman Josi Sets Franchise Record For Most Points In A Season

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Roman Josi. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

In an already historic season for the Nashville Predators defenseman, Roman Josi sets yet another franchise record–this time for most points in a single season after assisting three goals in the Preds 3-2 win over Ottawa.

He picked up his 85th, 86th and 87th point of the season with his three assists. Josi beat the previous Predators franchise mark set by Paul Kariya back in 2006. He also became the 10th defenseman in NHL history to record at least 87 points in a season. The Predators are now the third active franchise to feature a defenseman holding a single-season record for points among all skaters. The others include Denis Potvin with the NY Islanders and Norm MacIver 1992-93 with Ottawa.

“His numbers speak for themself, but I just think it’s really impressive,” said Predators head coach John Hynes in a postgame press conference. “All of us–the coaches, the players, [the media] and the fan base–are around a player that’s a highly talented guy with unbelievable character. The way that he plays the game and continues to improve [shows that] he’s a special player, a special guy, and a special leader.”

Josi’s historic night against the Senators was his 12th three-point game of the season, the most in a single season since Paul Coffey in 1993-94 with the Red Wings (12). The last blueliner with more was Al MacInnis for the Calgary Flames in 1990-91 (13).

“As a teammate, right now I just see him doing his thing so consistently,” said teammate Ryan Johansen postgame. “Dominating the puck, dominating the ice, making big time plays every game. It’s really a pleasure to be a part of and watch.”

Josi is having one of his best seasons ever with multiple point streaks throughout the season. The most recent one was a 12-game point streak in late March where he scored four goals, 22 assists and 49 shots on net during the streak.

“No matter how much success he has, he’s the same guy,” Hynes added. “He’s humble, he works hard, he’s a great teammate, he’s a coachable player and I think that’s what makes him special. That’s why he’s the captain of the team.”

With the Predators 3-2 win over Ottawa on Thursday night (April 7), Nashville sits in the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 86 points, two points ahead of Dallas. They are four points ahead of Las Vegas who are just outside of the two Wild car spots with 82 points.

Next up for Nashville are the Florida Panthers who will visit Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, April 9 at 5 p.m.

Predators Foundation Awards SuperGrant To Bridges Domestic Violence Center

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The Nashville Predators Foundation and SmileDirectClub have donated a SuperGrant totaling $29,840 to Bridges Domestic Violence Center.

Bridges Domestic Violence Center serves women, men and their children affected by domestic violence, ensuring a safe transition to successful independent living through education, intervention and case management.

“We are so proud to partner with SmileDirectClub and present SuperGrants to deserving Nashville and Middle Tennessee organizations,” says Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King. “For over 20 years, the Preds Foundation has been committed to serving the community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our support and provide funding for essential resources at Bridges Domestic Violence Center.”

Domestic violence organizations have discovered that many people will not leave a violent home and escape to safety because they fear what their abuser will do to the family pet if they leave. The SuperGrant will also help in providing food, leashes, bowls, care and exercise for the animals who are staying in safety at the shelter.

“The Predators Foundation has supported Bridges for years, funding children’s extracurricular activities like camps, birthday parties and insurance on the transportation used for the activities,” says Bridges Domestic Violence Center Development Director Lynn Schroeder. “The Predators Foundation and SmileDirectClub’s SuperGrant could not have come at a better time for the care and safety of our families’ pets. Both organizations continually maintain their status as fantastic community partners in providing these services and we couldn’t be more appreciative. ”

Introduced during the 2019-20 season as part of the partnership between the Predators Foundation and Nashville-based SmileDirectClub, multiple SuperGrants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 will be awarded each season to Middle Tennessee community organizations. Including the funds awarded to Home Street Home Ministries, Monroe Harding, Retrieving Independence and Maple Built, $200,000 in financial support was distributed by the SuperGrant program last season.

“Every day at SmileDirectClub, we see the ways confidence can transform a life through the power of a smile,” says SmileDirectClub Chief Marketing Officer John Sheldon. “We are proud to partner with the Nashville Preds Foundation to support a community organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence transition, regain confidence and increase self-esteem.”

Predators Aquire Defensemen Jeremy Lauzon, Poile Comments On Forsberg Contract Talks

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Jeremy Lauzon. Photo: Courtesy of the Seattle Kraken

The Predators made a few moves prior to the 2022 NHL trade deadline, including acquiring defenseman Jeremy Lauzon from the Seattle Kraken for a second-round pick in the 2022 draft.

The 24-year-old was selected by the Kraken from Boston in last year’s expansion draft. Lauzon has appeared in 129 games with Boston and Seattle since making his League debut during the 2018-19 season.

So far, he is fifth among NHL defensemen in hits with 176 and has 49 blocked shots, five shy of a career high. He averages the second-most shorthanded ice time among Kraken blueliners at 1:54, has started a career-high 65.4% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and is logging 17:49 of TOI per game, the second-best mark of his NHL tenure.

Lauzon brings youth and muscle, and will be a much needed addition to give the Predators fresh legs when games begin to get tighter as the season winds down.

Along with Lauzon, Nashville traded for veteran defenseman Alex Biega from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations. Biega is in his 12th professional season this year, the majority of which has been spent with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He eclipsed the 100-hit mark four times at the NHL level, dishing out a career-high 126 with Vancouver in 2017-18.

Both of these moves show the emphasis on bulking up the Pred defense prior to the upcoming NHL Playoffs.

Filip Forsberg. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

After much speculation, the Preds decided not to trade star forward Filip Forsberg prior to the deadline.

Predators General Manager David Poile addressed the decision after Monday’s deadline and spoke about the situation regarding a new contract for Forsberg.

“I wouldn’t want anybody to think any less of our desire to retain him as a member of the Nashville Predators for the next several season because we haven’t announced a new contract for him today,” Poile explained in the press conference. “We’re gong to continue to work quietly with Filip and his representative towards the contract that pays him equitably while giving the organization the flexibility to build and maintain a roster to compete for the Stanley Cup.”

The indication is that the team plans to sign him to a long-term contract and be competitive for years to come. Poile made it clear that the interest in bring Forsberg back and for the long-term is mutual, but he also said that the current focus is getting this year’s team back in the playoffs to compete for the Cup.

“In the short term, we’ve all agreed to place our focus on the task at hand, and that’s solidifying a spot in the 2022 playoffs and competing for the Stanley Cup,” Poile added. “I continue to believe that Filip feels the same way, that he will be a part of the Predators for a long time.”

Predators Partner With UnitedHealthcare To Promote Small Businesses

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The Nashville Predators are partnering with UnitedHealthcare to help promote Nashville-area small businesses through the Spotlight on Small Business Sweepstakes.

The sweepstakes, which is accepting nominations now through April 6, will award three small businesses with the opportunity to display their company logo and website on the Nashville Predators’ website, have a social media post on Preds channels, one autographed jersey, and four tickets to a Preds home game.

“We are thrilled to partner with UnitedHealthcare and help small businesses in the community,” says Nashville Predators Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Chris Junghans. “We are committed to keeping small businesses healthy, and the Spotlight on Small Business Sweepstakes gives us the opportunity to celebrate these businesses through promotion and advertising.”

The Spotlight on Small Business Sweepstakes provides the opportunity for these businesses to be highlighted and promoted on a large platform, as many may not have the time or resources for advertising.

“We started this promotion because small businesses are the heartbeat of our community, and we wanted to do something to lift them up, build awareness and hopefully help them keep their doors open and staff employed during a very difficult time,” adds UnitedHealthcare CEO of the MidSouth Steve Wilson. “When small businesses are healthy, our communities are healthy–more people have jobs and can provide for their families, and more money is invested back into the local economy. This is a program we strongly believe in for the overall health and well-being of our community.”

Previous 2020-21 Spotlight winners include Crosstown, Garner Therapy Services, Perfectly Cordial, SPRSI and Taco Mama. Businesses must have between 10 and 100 employees to qualify. Business who want to enter can head to the Predators website.

Press Kit: Predators Look To Keep Win Streak Going Ahead Of Blues Game

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Juuse Saros. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Three massive wins have put the Predators in a great position to steal third place in the Central Division from the Blues, who Nashville will face in a matinee on Saturday (March 12).

After a rough February, the Preds picked up wins against San Jose (8-0), Dallas (2-1) and Anaheim (4-1) with the skill of Juuse Saros in net, only giving up two goals. Saros has continued to be the backbone of this Predators team, with a save percentage of .925, placing him at fifth best in the NHL. He is also tied for fourth best in wins with 28.

Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene have also played some of their best hockey these past three games. They accumulated eight goals and 12 assists to start off March.

“I think when you look at this time of year, particularly the last two games, it shows how important 60 minutes of hockey is,” said head coach John Hynes in a postgame press conference on Thursday. “You have to be able to play in certain situations and stay with it.”

Nashville is currently sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 70 points, three points ahead of Dallas and only three points behind St. Louis. The Blues are sitting in second place in the Central Division with 73 points.

Saturday’s game can put the Preds back into the top three division spot if they can pull off a win.

So far this season, the Predators and Blues share one win each in the season series. After Saturday’s game, the two Central Division rivals will face each other once more at the end of April, both at Bridgestone Arena in front of a home crowd.

The Blues have been anchored by the offensive prowess from Jordan Kyrou and Vladimir Tarasenko, who both have 55 points and 49 points, respectively. Kyrou has scored two goals against the Preds, while Tarasenko has only scored onece.

St. Louis has played four different goalies this season due to injury, but their two main goalies are Ville Husso who has played 23 games this season and holds a save percentage of .930. The other is Jordan Binnington who has played 28 games with a saving percentage of .904.

Binnington gave up four goals against the Preds in the season series opener, while Husso held Nashville to just three goals in a 5-3 win for the Blues.

The Blues have lost four of their last five, ending a four-game skid with a 6-2 win against the New York Rangers on Thursday, March 10.

Momentum is on the side of the Preds with a chance to get in second place in the division, but the Blues are still one of the better teams in the Western Conference who have always played their best hockey against the Preds.

A win for Nashville can keep the team moving in the right direction as the season winds down, but a loss can make their playoff chances much less secure as they will face one of the toughest stretches of the season later this month.

Puck drop is set for 11:30 a.m. and lineups will be announced prior to the game on Saturday morning.

Predators’ Tanner Jeannot & Wife Keely To Host Diaper Drive For Mother To Mother

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Tanner Jeannot. Photo: Courtesy of the Predators

The Nashville Predators Foundation, along with Preds forward Tanner Jeannot and his wife Keely, will host a Diaper Drive for Mother to Mother on Tuesday (March 8) before the game against the Dallas Stars.

Mother to Mother, a Nashville-based non-profit organization, works to ensure that impoverished children in the community have access to basic essential items.

“I’m excited and honored for my wife and I to be part of this important initiative,” says Jeannot. “As a soon-to-be father, I’ve been able to see first-hand how much this organization means to parents around Nashville and the Middle Tennessee communities. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Smashville help us, the Predators Foundation and Mother to Mother out with this cause.”

The Jeannots and the Preds Foundation will each match up to $5,000 worth of donations, making them go three times as far. In partnership with Mother to Mother, donations will be distributed to those in need in the Fort Campbell and Clarksville community as part of Preds Military Week from March 8-12.

Fans are encouraged to drop diapers off at any Bridgestone Arena entrance prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop or purchase from the Amazon wish list.

During the 2020-21 season, the Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena, Ford Ice Centers and the Predators Foundation contributed more than $4 million in cash and in-kind gifts throughout the Nashville community and surrounding areas. Since its inception in 1998, the Predators Foundation has awarded over $8 million in grants alone to Nashville-area charitable organizations, including a single-season record of $735,000 in 2020-21.

Dustin Lynch, Jessie James Decker Join NHL Stadium Series Pregame Festivities

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Country artists Dustin Lynch and Jessie James Decker have joined the lineup for the pregame entertainment ahead of Saturday’s 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium on Feb. 26.

Decker will perform the national anthem in front of the sold out crowd joined by Nashville Sign Language Club performer Heather Olmstead. Lynch will open the game with a performance of his new hit single, “Party Mode.”

They join fellow country artists Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley who will be performing during the first intermission of the game.

Lynch, accompanied by the Vanderbilt Spirit dance team, will open the festivities with a performance during the on-field arrivals of the Predators and Lightning. Lynch has built a success career with eight No. 1s, four Top 5 albums, nine Gold and Platinum certified singles, and over 3.3 billion global on-demand streams. Launching the “Party Mode Tour” this spring, his fifth studio album, Blue In The Sky, is out now.

Signed to Warner Music Nashville, Decker has shown off her talent as a singer, songwriter, TV personality, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and two-time New York Times best-selling author. Her 2017 album, Southern Girl City Lights, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Walker Hayes will also join the lineup with an exclusive TikTok livestreame performance inside the NHL PreGame fan festival. He will perform on the TikTok Tailgate Stage at The PreGame, the official fan festival of the NHL Stadium Series in Nissan Stadium’s Parking Lot R. The concert will be exclusively livestreamed on the NHL’s TikTok account at 4:30pm CT.

The “Stadium Biscuits” house band, led by bandleader John Bohlinger, will share center stage throughout the game with a lineup of Nashville-based musical artists, including Frankie Ballard, Chayce Beckham, Bexar, Jackson Dean, Lindsay Ell, Morgan Evans, Josh Hedley, Tiera Kennedy and Ajay Popoff.

The game, pregame celebrations, and first intermission concert will be broadcast live at 6:30 p.m. CT on TNT.