The Predators will play host to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at the home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, Nissan Stadium, on Feb. 26, 2022 (7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT on TNT, TVAS2, SN360). All stats are through games played Feb. 16, 2022.
* The Predators will play their second outdoor game in franchise history. The first was in the 2020 Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium, a 4-2 loss to Dallas.
* The Lightning will become the 27th different franchise to play in an NHL regular-season outdoor game – only Arizona, Carolina, Columbus, Florida and Seattle have not. The Hurricanes are set to host the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C., against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
* Nashville can become the second team to defeat a defending Stanley Cup champion in an outdoor game, following Minnesota’s victory against Chicago in the 2016 Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium. Reigning champions own a 4-1-0 record outdoors, with the Red Wings (2009 Winter Classic), Blackhawks (2014 Stadium Series), Kings (2015 Stadium Series) and Penguins (2017 Stadium Series) accounting for the wins.
* The 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Lightning and Predators can become the eighth outdoor game between two teams who enter among the top 10 in the NHL standings. The only such matchups since 2014-15 were the 2018 Stadium Series (TOR at WSH) and 2022 Winter Classic (STL at MIN). Tampa Bay currently ranks third in the NHL standings, with Nashville in 12th place.
* Twelve of 66 teams from the previous 33 outdoor games entered play among the top five in the NHL standings. The last such occurrence was in the second 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game, when the Bruins (No. 5) defeated the Flyers (No. 14).
* Among current Predators and Lightning players that have appeared in at least one game this season, a total of 44 have yet to play in an NHL outdoor game (NSH: 20; TBL: 24). That total includes goaltenders Juuse Saros and Andrei Vasilevskiy – the last contest to see each starting netminder make their outdoor game debut was the 2020 Winter Classic, when the Predators’ Pekka Rinne squared off against the Stars’ Ben Bishop, who played parts of five seasons with the Lightning.
* The first meeting between Nashville and Tampa Bay came Jan. 21, 1999, when Bill Ranford (34 saves) and Darcy Tucker (GWG) lifted the visiting Lightning to a 3-2 victory at Nashville Arena (now Bridgestone Arena).
* The Predators posted the first road shutout in franchise history on March 24, 1999, when Mike Dunham (27-saves) and Greg Johnson (1-2—3) led Nashville to a 3-0 win at the Ice Palace (now AMALIE Arena) in Tampa. It remains the only time Nashville has recorded a shutout against Tampa Bay.
* The Predators, who frequently host members of the Tennessee Titans for games at Bridgestone Arena, scored a touchdown (extra point included) against the Lightning in their last head-to-head contest (7-2 W on April 13, 2021). Nashville is one of two clubs to score seven goals in a game against Tampa Bay (regular season or playoffs) since they won the first of their back-to-back championships in 2020.
* Exactly 60% of games between the Predators and Lightning in Nashville have been decided by a one-goal margin (12 of 20 GP), while 75% have been decided by a one-goal margin or multiple goals which included an empty-net tally (15 of 20 GP).
* Nineteen different players have scored a game-winning goal in the 19 contests between the Predators and Lightning in Nashville that ended in regulation or overtime (9 w/ NSH, 10 w/ TBL).
* Tennessee is set to become the 14th different state (plus the District of Columbia) to host an NHL regular-season outdoor game. In 2017, Tennessee became the 15th different state (plus D.C.) to host a Stanley Cup Final game since the NHL was founded in 1917-18.
* Professional hockey has been played in Nashville since the early 1960s, when the Dixie Flyers were members of the now-defunct Eastern Hockey League – other Nashville-based teams to compete in minor pro circuits prior to the Predators’ arrival include the South Stars (CHL/ACHL), Knights (ECHL), Nighthawks (CHL) and Ice Flyers (CHL). Notable NHLers that played for these clubs include Don Beaupre, Ross Brooks, Troy Crowder, Lou Franceschetti, Bill Huard, Glen Metropolit, Dave Richter, Harry York, Warren Young and Tom Younghans, as well as Bob Suter (who appeared in the “Miracle on Ice” and is the father of former Predators defenseman Ryan Suter).
* The Dixie Flyers’ first home game against a Florida-based team took place on Oct. 30, 1964, when they welcomed the expansion Jacksonville Rockets to Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The Dixie Flyers earned a 6-3 win, with the hosts receiving two goals from Ted McCaskill – his son, Kirk, became an MLB pitcher after playing hockey for the University of Vermont (alma mater of Lightning forward Ross Colton & franchise icon Martin St. Louis).
* On June 25, 1997, the NHL officially approved the addition of four expansion franchises with the Predators scheduled to contest their inaugural season in 1998-99 as the League’s 27th team. Exactly three months later, the franchise unveiled their saber-toothed cat logo – the emblem was a reference to a partial Smilodon skeleton found beneath downtown Nashville in 1971.
* The Predators have contested 23 seasons since forging the foundation of their initial roster during the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, highlighted by the franchise reaching the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Nashville also won the Presidents’ Trophy the following season as franchise mainstays Roman Josi, Pekka Rinne and Filip Forsberg led the team to a League-leading 53-18-11 (117 points) record.
* Predators general manager David Poile has been a constant since the NHL’s arrival in Music City as he has held the position since July 9, 1997. Poile will enter the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series with 3,200 career games as an NHL general manager (regular season & playoffs). He will become the first GM in League history to hit the milestone during Nashville’s Feb. 24 contest against Dallas – their opponent in their only other outdoor game.
* David Poile’s 1,474 career regular-season wins are the most by a general manager in NHL history and include all 880 victories Nashville has recorded. The only GMs that have more with one club are Harry Sinden (1,170 w/ BOS), Lou Lamoriello (1,093 w/ NJD), Ken Holland (925 w/ DET) and Jack Adams (913 w/ DET).
* A Tennessee-born player has yet to appear in an NHL game. Blake Geoffrion, who was born in Plantation, Fla., but grew up in Brentwood, Tenn., appeared in 67 career NHL games (regular season & playoffs) including 54 with the Predators from 2010-11 to 2011-12.
* The only Tennessee-born player picked in an NHL Draft is defenseman Simon Kjellberg, who was chosen by the Rangers during the sixth round in 2018 (163rd overall).Kjellberg was born in Nashville while his father, Patric, played for the Predators and has 5-14—19 in 33 games with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers this season.
* Mack Guzda, a goaltender currently with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on Feb. 7. Guzda was born in Knoxville, Tenn., while his father, Brad, played for the Knoxville Speed of the now-defunct United Hockey League.
* Predators broadcaster Terry Crisp has covered the team in each of their 23 seasons. Crisp also played a pivotal role in the start of the Lightning franchise – following an 11-season NHL playing career and stints as an assistant coach with the Flyers and head coach with the Flames, he served behind the bench for Tampa Bay’s first 391 games (Oct. 7, 1992–Oct. 24, 1997). That represented the most consecutive games by the first head coach with an NHL expansion franchise until Barry Trotz, then with the Predators, broke the mark in 2003.
* Nine players who dressed with the Predators in their first outdoor game remain with the team: Matt Duchene, Mattias Ekholm, Dante Fabbro, Filip Forsberg, Mikael Granlund, Rocco Grimaldi, Ryan Johansen, Roman Josi and Juuse Saros.
* A total of 11 current Nashville skaters have appeared in at least one outdoor game: Matt Duchene (1-1—2 in 3 GP), Mikael Granlund (2 GP), Philippe Myers (2 GP), Roman Josi (0-2—2 in 1 GP), Dante Fabbro (1-0—1 in 1 GP), Filip Forsberg (0-1—1 in 1 GP), Nick Cousins (1 GP), Mattias Ekholm (1 GP), Cody Glass (1 GP), Rocco Grimaldi (1 GP) and Ryan Johansen (1 GP). Predators goaltender David Rittich made 43 saves for the Flames in the 2019 Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium – the most by a goaltender in NHL outdoor game history.
* Matt Duchene (1-1—2) and Roman Josi (0-2—2) factored on both Predators goals during the 2020 Winter Classic, which were scored in the opening 7:36 of the first period. The only NHL players to factor on each of a franchise’s first three all-time outdoor game goals are Steve Staios with Edmonton (2003 Heritage Classic) and Martin Havlat with Chicago (2009 Winter Classic).
* Roman Josi is one of 16 NHL defensemen with multiple points in a single outdoor game; only three blueliners have had three or more points outdoors: Steve Staios (1-2—3 in 2003 Heritage Classic), Brian Rafalski (1-2—3 in 2009 Winter Classic) and John Carlson (1-2—3 in 2018 Stadium Series).
* Dante Fabbro represented Canada in the first outdoor game in World Junior Championship history, in front of 44,592 fans at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Dec. 29, 2017. He also skated outdoors with the Boston University Terriers in a 5-3 win against the UMass Minutemen at Frozen Fenway 2017.
* Eeli Tolvanen played in the Helsinki Ice Challenge,which took place at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland on Dec. 2, 2017 and marked the first regular-season outdoor game in KHL history. His club, Jokerit, fell to SKA Saint Petersburg and its captain, Ilya Kovalchuk.
* Matt Benning scored the game-winning goal for the Northeastern University Huskies in its 4-1 victory against the UMass Lowell River Hawks at Frozen Fenway 2014.
* Michael McCarron and the London Knights played outdoors against the Plymouth Whalers during the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival, held at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich., in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The crowd of 26,384 marked a CHL attendance record.
* Rocco Grimaldi and the University of North Dakota squared off against the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks outdoors as part of the Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice. The game took place TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., on Feb. 9, 2013, and Grimaldi grabbed one assist in a 5-2 win.
* John Hynes was head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the 2013 AHL Outdoor Classic at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa. The Penguins earned a 2-1 overtime win against the Hershey Bears.
* Mikael Granlund, who played four seasons in the Finnish Elite League before reaching the NHL, skated outdoors with HIFK during the 2011 Talviklassikko at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland. Granlund opened the scoring 23 seconds into the first period and got a second goal to guide HIFK past Jokerit.
* Filip Forsberg played 10 regular-season games with Leksands IF in 2010-11, which included their outdoor game against Mora IK at Villa Långbers Arena in Leksand, Sweden on Feb. 26, 2011.
* Six current Tampa Bay skaters have appeared in at least one outdoor game (min. 1 GP in 2021-22): Ryan McDonagh (4 GP), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (3 GP), Corey Perry (1-0—1 in 2 GP), Pat Maroon (2 GP), Zach Bogosian (1 GP) and Fredrik Claesson (1 GP). Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott appeared for the Flyers in the 2019 Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field and in their 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game.
* Tampa Bay features 18 different Stanley Cup winners and 33 combined championships overall – Pat Maroon tops the list with three (2019 STL, 2020 TBL & 2021 TBL). The only outdoor games where a team dressed at least 18 Stanley Cup winners were the 2014 Stadium Series at Soldier Field (CHI: 19), 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field (DET: 18) and 2015 Winter Classic at Nationals Park (CHI: 18).
* Corey Perryopened the scoring at 2:45 of the first period in the 2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium (w/ ANA). After playing only 38 seconds in the 2020 Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium against the Predators, Perry can become the second NHL player to go eight-plus years between outdoor game goals (Evgeni Malkin: 8 years, 53 days from 2011 Winter Classic to 2019 Stadium Series).
* Taylor and Darren Raddysh can become the second set of brothers to dress in the same NHL outdoor game (as teammates or opponents), following twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin at the 2014 Heritage Classic at BC Place.
* Cal Foote (USA), Boris Katchouk (CAN) and Taylor Raddysh (CAN) skated in the first outdoor game in World Junior Championship history, in front of 44,592 fans at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Dec. 29, 2017. Katchouk scored Canada’s final goal before Foote and the U.S. rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit en route to a shootout win.
* Andrej Sustr and the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks squared off against the University of North Dakota outdoors as part of the Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice. The game took place TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., on Feb. 9, 2013.
* Alex Killorn skated outdoors with the Harvard University Crimson against Union College Dutchmen at Frozen Fenway 2012.
* Ryan McDonagh helped the University of Wisconsin earn a 3-2 win against the University of Michigan in the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, an outdoor game played at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 6, 2010. He skated alongside Blake Geoffrion, who grew up in Brentwood, Tenn.
* Steven Stamkos will play in his first outdoor game. Assuming he plays in Tampa Bay’s next game (Feb. 23 vs. EDM), his 890 games played before his NHL outdoor debut are currently fourth-most among active players (Keith Yandle: 1,080 GP; Nick Foligno: 987 GP; Sam Gagner: 936 GP).
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