To say that last night’s historic night in Smashville was a GLORIOUS sight to see for all Nashville Predators fans would be a huge understatement.
Thousands of fans, new and old alike, flipped the city of Nashville completely upside-down as the Predators defeat the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 in Game Six of the Western Conference Final. This marks history yet again this season as the Nashville Predators advance to their first ever Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.
In a game that started off with so much energy (and a 2-0 lead by the Preds), the real memories started during what was a 3-3 tied third period. Preds centerman Colton Sissons buried his third goal of the game to give him the first ever post-season hat trick of his career. From that point on, Bridgestone Arena, and the thousands of fans sitting on the arena plaza and the Walk of Fame, turned a “Monday night in Nashville” into an “all-out rager in Smashville.”
We took the liberty to stay on top of all the coverage and footage to just give you a glimpse of how special last night’s events were, including some footage from our friends at the Nashville Predators, NHL on NBC, and NHL.com. All of the videos and images below took place during Game Six and after the victory, and they were certainly all moments that shocked the hockey world throughout the entire National Hockey League. In attempt to keep things in a chronological order, check it out:
The crowd outside of Bridgestone Arena had amassed in THOUSANDS on the plaza and the Walk of Fame:
Oh my goodness. An absolutely BREATH-TAKING shot of the @BrdgstoneArena plaza right now.
This is #SMASHVILLE. #Preds #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/aenZdeOEWq
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
Might be just as many #Preds fans outside as there are inside. #Smashville knows how to do it. #StandWithUs pic.twitter.com/lSM2EUFCk7
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) May 23, 2017
A piece of the INCREDIBLE pre-game show and the crowd reaction as the Predators take the ice!
The entrance. pic.twitter.com/TecM5YQuHi
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
Another star-studded National Anthem by none other than… TRISHA YEARWOOD.
Trisha Yearwood with another awesome rendition of the National Anthem #Preds #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/LhG6VQPZNu
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) May 23, 2017
Fast-forward to the GAME WINNING GOAL by Colton Sissons…
GAME WINNING goal from last nights @PredsNHL game! #Preds #StanleyCup #Smashville pic.twitter.com/Yg29nE3OEw
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
… which turned out to be his FIRST ever career post-season hat trick!
"HERE COME THE HATS."
Legendary moment for the #Preds Colton Sissons! The FROSTY HATTY! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/wmEHgYp7ba
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
And then, Tennessee Titans OL Taylor Lewan makes his way down to the ice and TOSSES THE CATFISH!
HOLY CRAP THIS PLACE HAS CAME UNGLUED! @TaylorLewan77 THROWS THE CATFISH!!!#Preds #Smashville #ANAvsNSH #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/7qmfI0XgyB
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
No introduction really needed for this: “Smashville Standing O.”
Hello world: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED YET? There is NOTHING like #Smashville!#StanleyCup #Preds pic.twitter.com/NxP9NGTkG6
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
And then… HISTORY became a reality. The final seconds of the most important game so far in Nashville Predators’ history.
A memory that will last… forever.
The final seconds that sent the #Preds to the #StanleyCup Final. #Nashville pic.twitter.com/AJXSZLPHIu
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
Once the game had ended, Nashville became a 100% celebration zone for Preds fans. Check out some of the crowd reactions to the Predators making history and clinching their spot in the Stanley Cup Final:
INSANITY! #Preds #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/IKiPKvbkf2
— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
Our own Jason Fitz and his wife Sunny were enjoying the fun downtown, as well!
Woohoo! @jasonfitz @1025thegame @predsnhl pic.twitter.com/3v4qxaqHYO
— Sunny Band (@sunnyband) May 23, 2017
THE PLAZA IS LIT!!! 🔥 #Preds #Smashville #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RLTKNPIR0e
— ESPN 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) May 23, 2017
And lastly, our favorite moment of the night. We don’t think there has ever been this much joy in Smashville. See it for yourself: