Preds Top 20, No. 18: Perfect in Prague

The Nashville Predators 2022-23 season has officially come to an end, and what a season it has been. From momentous firsts to bittersweet farewells, this year was full of memorable moments both on and off the ice.

We've already taken a look back at the Top 10 goals scored by the Predators this season. Now, we're counting down the Top 20 moments and milestones that highlighted a special season of hockey in SMASHVILLE.

We'll take our trip down memory lane in chronological order, so let's head back across the pond as we continue our countdown at No. 18.

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They had a shortened training camp. They had traveled 4,000 miles overseas. They were jetlagged. The ice conditions were less than ideal. They even fell behind early in game two.

And yet, the Predators still opened the 2022-23 regular season with back-to-back victories over the San Jose Sharks at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series.

Newcomers dominated the scoresheets in Nashville's first two games in Prague; Nino Niederreiter, who signed as a free agent with Nashville in July, scored three goals in two games against San Jose. Kiefer Sherwood, who also signed with Nashville as a free agent during the offseason, had two points (1g-1a) in his Predators debut in game one.

Sherwood was named the first star of game one, a 4-1 Predators victory. Undrafted into the NHL, he grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and had never been outside of North America before. But the moment wasn't too big for him; he wasted no time scoring the first goal of the 2022-23 NHL season - his first as a Predator - just 62 seconds into the first period. He chipped in a rebound in front of the net after a shot by Mattias Ekholm, with an assist from Ryan McDonagh.

"It felt surreal," Sherwood said, struggling to find the words to express how he was feeling after the win. "I'm just happy to contribute. Glad we got the win."

With Niederreiter and Sherwood each scoring a goal in their team debut with the Predators, it marked the second game in franchise history where multiple players scored in their team debut (Oct. 5, 2006 - J-P Dumont and Josef Vasicek).

McDonagh also recorded two points (2a) in his first two games with Nashville, including an assist on Sherwood's goal. In doing so, he became the fifth defenseman in Predators history to record at least a point in each of his first two games with the franchise.

Another Nashville newcomer in 2022-23, Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves in goal - including 15 in the third period - as he backstopped the Preds to a 3-2 win in game two.

"It was a big battle… that I think showed a lot of character from the whole team," Lankinen said. "It was huge seeing the guys out in front of you like that and putting everything on the line and doing whatever it takes. It gives you a boost as a goalie - you don't want to let them down and you want to do whatever it takes for them as well."

As the Global Series came to a close, the Preds boarded the plane back to Nashville with four points and a lifetime of memories. Asked what he would remember years from now from this experience on and off the ice, Ryan Johansen thought for a moment before delivering one of the best answers of the season:

"The pilsners."

On a more serious note, Johansen couldn't choose a single favorite moment from the Global Series. The entire experience was simply unforgettable.

"Overall, it's just the whole event," he said. "The NHL did a great job. Every day there was something fun and exciting."

Worth a click:

No. 20: Cody Glass Makes the Team
No. 19: Roman Josi's Homecoming