What to look for at each arena during playoffs

The 16 arenas hosting Stanley Cup Playoff games have special traditions, each unique in its own way.
With the playoffs beginning Wednesday, here's a look at one feature from every playoff market:

Anaheim Ducks

It is a crush of orange everywhere at Honda Center. "Paint it Orange" is the Ducks theme of the playoffs. Orange T-shirts and towels are often handed out. You might say walking into the arena in Anaheim feels like a Halloween party, albeit a few months early.

Boston Bruins

Rene Rancourt, who has performed the national anthem before Bruins games since the 1975-76 season, finishes with a flourish: his fist pumps. It was modeled after the "Stump Pump" of former player Randy Burridge, and grows in number and enthusiasm as the season and the playoffs advance, and usually brings down the house at TD Garden.

Colorado Avalanche

No, that's not a video game playing during Avalanche games; those Mario Bros. sound effects at Pepsi Center signal the opponents' power play is over.

Columbus Blue Jackets

When the Blue Jackets score, Nationwide Arena bursts into applause. Then, an 1857 Napoleon-style cannon fires a 105-decibel boom through the arena's loudspeakers in homage to Ohio's contribution to the Civil War for the Union Army. It debuted on Oct. 5, 2007. Fans may be prepared for the blast after a goal, but many are startled when the cannon goes off as the Blue Jackets return to the ice after warm-ups.

Los Angeles Kings

Not only is it what to look for at Staples Center during the playoffs, it's about the sound too. The Kings' goal horn -- yes, it is loud -- is activated by the talented Dieter Ruehle, their longtime organist. He has an uncanny way of finding the right song for the right moment. If Kings rookie Alex Iafallo scores during the playoffs, Ruehle will play U2's "I Will Follow." You can count on it.

Minnesota Wild

What better prelude to puck drop than by stating the obvious: "Let's Play Hockey." Since the Wild's inaugural season of 2000-01, every home game begins with a special guest with ties to Minnesota leading the crowd in the chant. Guests have included gold-medal winners and professional athletes, as well as people who have survived cancer or experienced tragedy in their lives.

Nashville Predators

It's tough enough for a goaltender when he gives up a goal in the playoffs, but it's even tougher when he's publicly shamed for it. That's what happens to opposing goaltenders at Bridgestone Arena after the Predators score. Led by longtime fans in Section 303, affectionately referred to as "Cellblock 303," the opposing goaltender and those watching at home will become very familiar with their traditional chants for several minutes after the Predators score.

New Jersey Devils

Wrestling legend Ric Flair never gave a "Woo" of what any opponent thought of him, and neither have Devils fans against any opponent this season at Prudential Center. What began as an emotional pick-me-up for Devils fans on WWE Night at Prudential Center on Nov. 9, the video clip of Flair highlights that including his famous "Woo" chant has become a ritual at each home game.

Philadelphia Flyers

Kate Smith died in 1986, but the singer's legend looms large during Flyers playoff games at Wells Fargo Center. Smith sang "God Bless America" before important Flyers games during the 1970s, and today Lauren Hart, their current anthem singer, performs a duet with a video of Smith that brings the crowd to near-record decibel levels.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Since 1976, broadcaster Mike Lange's voice has set the stage before, during and after each Penguins game. That continues to this day, when just before opening face-off, Lange's "It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh" echoes through PPG Paints Arena. Penguins fans might welcome hearing Lange exclaim, "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building" over the arena's PA system even more, since it signifies a Pittsburgh win.

San Jose Sharks

What better way to hit the ice than skating out of a giant shark head? That's what happens at SAP Center before every game. An enormous Sharks head with flashing red eyes and billowing fog is dramatically lowered from the rafters. The Sharks, led by their starting goaltender, burst out of the mouth while Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" blasts in the arena.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Long before puck drop, the Lightning's boisterous fan club, Sticks of Fire, gets things going. The group does its "March to the Match," which starts near an establishment in downtown Tampa, proceeds a couple of blocks through Thunder Alley and into Amalie Arena. The fans chant and cheer during the march and cap it off with a ceremonial fist bump with the statue of Lightning founder Phil Esposito before heading to their seats in Section 307.

Toronto Maple Leafs

When playoff time comes around, there is almost as much action outside the Air Canada Centre as there is inside. In a young tradition that started in 2013, thousands of people gather at Maple Leafs Square and watch home and road games on the big screen, located on the outside wall of the arena. For Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Series in 2013 at Boston, 3,000 people stood and watched despite pelting rain.

Vegas Golden Knights

Being the new team on the block means the Golden Knights are new to playoff traditions. But before every home game you can see the Knight Line, their official drum corps, marching through Toshiba Plaza and into T-Mobile Arena to get fans ready for the game. The drums light up each time they're hit, so you can't miss them.

Washington Capitals

If you are coming to a game at Capital One Arena, you better be ready to "Rock the Red." Before the first home playoff game of the Alex Ovechkin era in 2008, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis sent out a voicemail to season ticket holders requesting they wear red. That started a tradition that has continued for every Capitals home game since.

Winnipeg Jets

The whiteout, when fans wear nothing but white to games, returns. It was begun by the Jets marketing department in 1985 and started as a campaign called "Good Guys Wear White." The idea was hatched in conjunction with a local marketing company and was originally designed to up the ante in the playoffs with the Calgary Flames, which had started its "C of Red." The Jets and Flames were fierce rivals in the Smythe Division at the time.