Preds Top 100 Moments: 2014-2016

Now in its centennial season, the National Hockey League is celebrating in style. It started on Jan. 1 with the Centennial Classic in Toronto, and the League has big plans to commemorate the milestone as the 2017 calendar year continues. That includes an NHL Centennial Fan Arena tour, a traveling fan experience unlike any other, which will
make a stop in Nashville on Feb. 11-12
. Also, all 30 - and soon 31 - teams will wear the NHL Centennial logo on the sleeves of their jerseys for the next year.
The Nashville Predators don't have the same longevity the League does, but in their nearly 20 years of existence, there have been plenty of moments worth remembering. So in the spirit of the centennial, we're counting down the Top 100 moments in franchise history over the coming weeks, completing our story which covers 2014 through 2016.

May 6, 2014: Peter Laviolette Named Preds Second Head Coach
Peter Laviolette, a Stanley Cup winner with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, is named the franchise's second head coach. Kevin McCarthy also joins the organization as an assistant coach.

June 27, 2014: James Neal Acquired in Trade for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling
From the draft floor of Wells Fargo Center during the 2014 NHL Draft, Preds General Manager David Poile pulled off his first of three blockbuster trades in a three-year span. Poile sent homegrown talent in Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling to Pittsburgh in exchange for 40-goal scorer James Neal. Neal, who already has multiple 20-goal seasons with Nashville following the swap, has scored at least 20 goals in each of the eight seasons he's played in the NHL.
Dec. 16, 2014: David Poile becomes Second Winningest General Manager in NHL History
Predators General Manager David Poile won his 1,171st game as an NHL general manager in Nashville's 3-2 shootout win over Boston, moving him past Harry Sinden and into second place all-time victories by a general manager, trailing only Glen Sather.

Dec. 30, 2014: Preds Set Single-Game Attendance Record with 17,401
The Preds took to the ice against the St. Louis Blues in front of 17,401 fans, setting the franchise record for single-game hockey attendance at Bridgestone Arena.
Feb. 21, 2015: Bridgestone Arena Named Arena of the Year
Bridgestone Arena was named 2014 Arena of the Year by Pollstar Magazine, an industry-leader in concert industry and sports and entertainment news. This marked the first time that Bridgestone Arena has taken home the top venue honor after being nominated 11 times, including each of the past nine years, and the first time a building not in California or New York has won the award since its inception in 1989.

April 23, 2015: Filip Forsberg Nets Preds First Postseason Hat Trick
Facing elimination after a loss in triple overtime in Game Four of their First Round series with Chicago, the Predators accomplished two things they'd never done before. Propelled by Filip Forsberg's hat trick - the first of his career and the first ever by a Nashville player in the postseason - the Predators staved off elimination for the first time in franchise history. Previously, the Preds had been 0-7 when facing the opportunity to be ousted from the playoffs.
Jan. 6, 2016: Ryan Johansen Acquired for Seth Jones
In the blockbuster trade of the 2015-16 season, the Predators acquired their long-coveted No. 1 center in All-Star, 30-goal and 70-point man Ryan Johansen. To get Johansen, the Preds sent young defenseman Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Roughly 48 hours later and in his debut game with the Preds, Johansen scored on his first shot - and the club's first shot of the game - placing a shot over the shoulder of Colorado Avalanche netminder Semyon Varlamov with the Preds on the power play.

Jan. 29-31, 2016: Nashville Hosts 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend
The city of Nashville and the Predators hosted what is widely regarded as the most successful All-Star Weekend in League history. In addition to an outdoor concert series, red carpet attended by thousands and picture-perfect weather, the game was played as a 3-on-3 tournament for the first time ever. The economic impact on the city was estimated at more than $25 million.

Feb. 23 & 27, 2016: Filip Forsberg Registers Second Natural Hat Trick in a Week
With a one-time strike with the Preds on the power play, Filip Forsberg achieved a feat most players don't in a career's time. He did it in a week.
Forsberg's shot upstairs on Jake Allen was his third consecutive goal in that game, something he'd done just a few nights before in Toronto. Two natural hat tricks in a four-day span would help lead Forsberg to a franchise record before the season was out.

April 7, 2016: Forsberg Ties Preds Single-Season Record with 33rd Goal
With 26.7 seconds remaining in regulation, Roman Josi turned down the half wall and flung a shot toward the Arizona Coyotes' net that Filip Forsberg deflected in to tie the game. The goal not only forced overtime after the Preds were down, 2-1, in the final minute of play, but the tally was also Forsberg's 33rd of the 2015-16 campaign - a number that tied the franchise's single-season, goal-scoring record.
From there, Josi would score the Predators' first 3-on-3 overtime goal at home in the team's history. The 3-2 win in Nashville's home finale marked the first time in more than 20 years a team had tied a game in the final minute of play and won it in the opening 60 seconds of OT.

April 25, 2016: Preds Win Game 6 vs. Ducks to Tie Series and Force First-Ever Game 7
Down three games to two in their First Round Series, the Predators were hoping to do something they'd never pulled off before: win a Game Six while facing elimination to force a Game Seven.
After a scoreless first period, d-man Mattias Ekholm took a feed from Calle Jarnkrok at the far goal line, curved all the away behind the Ducks' net and out near the right circle where he fired a shot past Frederik Andersen for a 1-0 Nashville lead.
James Neal would make the advantage a 2-0 Preds lead later in the period and Nashville would hold on for a 3-1 triumph to send the series to a winner-take-all Game Seven.

April 27, 2016: Preds Triumph in Franchise's First Game 7
After staving off elimination with a 3-1 victory over Anaheim in Game Six of their First Round series two nights earlier, the Predators participated in - and won - their first Game Seven in franchise history. Nashville topped the Pacific Division-champion Ducks, 2-1, at Honda Center to advance to the Second Round for the third time in franchise history.

May 5, 2016: Mike Fisher Ends Longest Game in Franchise History with Goal in Triple OT
In Game Four of their Second Round series, the Predators and San Jose Sharks played the longest game in franchise history, with Nashville prevailing on a Mike Fisher goal 11:12 into triple overtime and just past 1 a.m. local time. The game was also the longest of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

May 10, 2016: With OT Win in Game Six, Preds Advance Further in Postseason Than Ever Before
Facing elimination on home ice for the second consecutive series in Game Six of their Round Two series with San Jose, the Preds got a goal from rookie Viktor Arvidsson at 2:03 of overtime to again force Game Seven, and ensure the team their longest playoff run in franchise history.

June 29, 2016: Preds Acquire P.K. Subban in Exchange for Former Captain Shea Weber
In the biggest trade in franchise history and one of the largest one-for-one player trades in NHL history, the Predators acquired Norris Trophy-winning defenseman P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens for team captain Shea Weber.

Sept. 8, 2016: Mike Fisher is Named Seventh Captain in Franchise History
In front of a gathering in Bridgestone Arena's Lexus Lounge, General Manager David Poile officially pronounced Mike Fisher as the Predators seventh captain in team history.
"It is the right time for Mike to be the captain in our history," Poile said. "In my mind, he could've easily been the captain many times in his career, but this is his time. It's the perfect fit. You look for the characteristics you want in a captain in terms of the personal life, how he conducts himself, the role model part of it, and it's A-plus with him."
"It will be really special to wear the 'C'," Fisher said. "There's no question it's an honor, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to wear it for a great organization, great people and a great team. I believe they've given it to me for a reason, and I want to continue to do what I've always done, but more because I want to help this team win a Stanley Cup."

Oct. 14, 2016: P.K. Subban Scores Preds First Goal of the Season, Preds Beat Hawks
One of the most-anticipated seasons in Predators' history began with a bang from just inside the blue line.
Trailing by a goal in the first, P.K. Subban ripped a shot by Corey Crawford at 7:46 to send the Nashville crowd into a frenzy. Skating toward center ice, Subban dropped to one knee and unleashed his signature celebration to amp the excitement level at Bridgestone Arena on Opening Night just a little more.
From there, the home team used two more power-play goals for a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks, one of their fiercest rivals.