Predators win a Super Mario, who becomes travel pal

While the team's plane to Denver was delayed on Friday, the Predators left the Nashville airport and hit up the Dave & Buster's Restaurant at the nearby Opry Mills Mall. They returned with a few extra travelling companions, but were told they had to come back early the next morning to fly to Denver.

Tweet from @PredsNHL: When you grab bae for a weekend getaway. Vancouver, here we come!#Preds #roadtripmascot pic.twitter.com/hX80nfYI8c

P.K .Subban posted the haul, which included a large blue dolphin, a red M&M, a brown M&M and the crown jewel of the trip, a large plush Super Mario, on Instagram.

Of all the new friends, it's Mario that has had the staying power.

Tweet from @PredsNHL: When you fall asleep on the plane and have to Uber to the Arena. Never fear, #mario is here! #NSHvsCOL #Preds #roadtripmascot #loveyouGNASH pic.twitter.com/ka6MxELa2c

The Predators Twitter account has shown Mario on the team plane, complete with seat belt (safety first, kids), in an Uber on his way to the Pepsi Center before the Predators' 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche and being carried to the airport where they boarded a flight to Vancouver to face the Canucks on Tuesday.

Tweet from @PredsNHL: Oil slicks, turtle shells and banana peels can't stop the #Preds from getting to Denver. Picked up a new teammate on the way. #mariopower pic.twitter.com/9F0a46qkgw

While Mario has become the unofficial road trip mascot, the team hasn't forgotten about GNASH, the big cat that pumps up the crowd at home games. The second Mario tweet even included the hashtag #iloveyouGNASH.

You'd have to think that if the Predators win again, Super Mario will keep getting the first class treatment.