Currently in the midst of a season-long, five-game homestand, Nashville's hockey team knows they won't win every time they step on the ice - including Thursday's loss to Edmonton - but a weekend like the one ahead with games against Chicago and St. Louis carries vast importance.
The Preds need their fans during stretches like this especially - and the team plans on showing up once more.
"It's really important," Preds center Colton Sissons said of the fan support. "We've had many games where the momentum has swung in our favor in large part due to the crowd getting behind us after a hit or a fight or a big goal. There's so much energy in here that we really feed off of, so we're going to feed off them on this homestand."
"The building has been electric," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of Bridgestone Arena. "Here, particularly with the way the fans have been, I think the way that the guys have played at home has given the fans something to be able to cheer about. But having the building rocking every night [is huge], and the fans have been great. The atmosphere is fun to play in, and I know our guys certainly enjoy playing at home."
Veterans like Sissons know what to expect when it comes to skating in front of the 7th Man, but some of the newer members of the Preds have enjoyed acclimating to a setting few other arenas can replicate in the NHL.
"It's been awesome," Preds rookie Philip Tomasino said. "From the start of the year, you could just kind of feel the energy from the building… We have a lot of home games this last month, which is really nice, but it's awesome to have that support from our fans."
"Being at home is a huge difference," Preds defenseman Alexandre Carrier said. "You're a bit tired [at this point of the season], but you come in and then the fans are a huge boost… As you get on, even if your legs are a bit more tired, you get more excited, you get more involved, and you just look around [and see the fans]. During the national anthem, I look around, and I'm like, 'Oh, this is great. We're at home and the fans are crazy.' So, it's a huge help for sure."
The Predators don't like to let the fans down either, and although a night like Thursday's was certainly disappointing at the time, they're moving past that. Instead, the Preds know the mood inside Bridgestone Arena can make a difference, and they can't wait to take advantage - and give their faithful a reason to make noise come Saturday and Sunday.
"That's our responsibility - when the building's full, you want to be able to put a brand of hockey out there that's exciting," Hynes said. "We want to give them something to cheer for, and Predators fans, I think they always admire - win or lose - how competitive the team is and how guys work and that they're giving their all night in and night out. Guys have done that at home, and we're going to need efforts like that [the rest of the season]."
"The crowd is huge," Preds centerman Ryan Johansen said, "And we're going to need them down the stretch."
