Over 120 Nashville Predators fans waited outside of Signature Terminal in the early hours of Wednesday morning to welcome their hockey team back to the city the team calls “Smashville.”
Why?
Because It’s The Cup.
The 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs’ tagline is reason enough for fans to welcome their team back to their hometown at 1 a.m. after a game. However, the team gave the fans more reason to show up Wednesday.
When the Predators landed at approximately 12:35 a.m. the team was fresh off two wins at Joe Louis Arena, the arena of the Detroit Red Wings. The two wins put Nashville (3-1) in position to win the series on Friday at their home rink, Bridgestone Arena.
Some fans showed up as early as 10:00, knowing the team would not land for at least two more hours. The weather cooperated, but was by no means perfect at a misty, brisk, 52 degrees.
The fans waited.
Because It’s The Cup.
When the team finally walked out the doors of the terminal, the inspired crowd gave each member of the hockey team as well as coaches, staff members and front office people an ovation that sounded like it could have easily came from 501 Broadway instead of 960 Hangar Lane.
Why?
Because It’s The Cup.
Television news crews and folks with iPhones captured the moment when Predators enforcer Brian McGrattan walked through the line of people. Head coach Barry Trotz and his assistants Peter Horacek and Lane Lambert soon followed. The foursome passed out fist-bumps with wide smiles. Other players took an alternate route, dodging the crowd hoping to get home as quickly as possible for some well-deserved rest.
Why?
Because It’s the Cup.
The players know it isn’t just Tuesday’s night’s 3-1 victory over the Red Wings that will get the team their first Stanley Cup. It takes that victory plus 15 more – two of which the Predators already have – in order to hoist Lord Stanley’s hardware.
Players acknowledged the crowd simply by waving, most with stunned looks on their faces. The two notable ones, Pekka Rinne and Sergei Kostitsyn, beamed with exhilaration and happiness as they made their way to their vehicles.
Hopefully, for Predator fans, this is not the last time the team is surprised by its fans this season. If the Preds win just one more game before letting Detroit run away with the last three, Nashville will move to the second round for the second consecutive year, and therefore landing on the same runaway.
[Editors Note] That being said, see you in a couple weeks, Preds Fans.
Because It’s The Cup.