Six Years of Nashville Predators Quiz

Answer: Jay More

Defenseman Jay More became the first free agent signing in Predators history, having spent the previous season in Chicago and Phoenix. Fitzgerald signed a month later and became the first captain in franchise history. Both Dunham and Boughner were picked up in the expansion draft (from New Jersey and Buffalo, respectively).

Answer: David Legwand

Centerman David Legwand was Nashville's pick in the first round, making him the first in team history. Winger Denis Arkhipov was their second pick that year (60th overall) and defenseman Kent Sauer was the fourth pick (88th overall). Goaltender Brian Finley was selected as Nashville's first pick (sixth overall) in the 1999 Entry Draft.

Answer: Predators lost, 0-1

Sadly, no Predator was able to put the puck past Florida netminder Kirk McLean that first night, as the team faced their first loss in team history. Starting the game for the sell-out crowd were: Andrew Brunette (LW), Greg Johnson (C), Sergei Krivokrasov (RW), Joel Bouchard (D), Bob Boughner (D), and Mike Dunham (G).

Answer: Andrew Brunette

At 5:12 of the first period, Andrew Brunette slipped one past Hurricanes' netminder Trevor Kidd to put his name in the Nashville history books. Lambert and Daigneault would also score in the first, and Mike Dunham would stop 34 shots, giving the Preds a 3-2 victory to the delight of the home crowd.

Answer: Phoenix Coyotes

It was January 15, 1999, the 46th game in team history, that Vokoun saved all 31 shots faced, giving his team the 2-0 win and first ever franchise shutout against the Coyotes.

Answer: Sergei Krivokrasov

Right winger Sergei Krivokrasov played for the World Team in the 49th All-Star game in Tampa, Florida. He didn't record a point in the game which helped the North America team win, 8-6. Timonen would make the All-Star game the following year, but because of injury could not participate.

He would get another chance in 2004 along with Vokoun. Ronning led the Predators in scoring in 1998-99, but didn't garner the votes to make him an All-Star.

Answer: Rob Valicevic

Right winger Rob Valicevic beat both Chicago goaltenders the night of November 10, 1999, to score the first hat-trick in club history. Jocelyn Thibault allowed the first two and Steve Passmore the third in a 4-2 Predators' victory.

Answer: David Legwand

With as long as the NHL has been around, I find it amazing that there wasn't an overtime penalty shot scored until the end of 2000. But centerman David Legwand is the man who made history by scoring the gamewinner at 3:17 of overtime on a penalty shot against the New York Rangers' Kirk McLean at Madison Square Garden in a 3-2 victory.

Answer: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Predators faced the Penguins in front of the largest crowds ever to witness hockey in Japan to start the 2000-01 season. The final score for both games ended up 3-1, with the Predators winning the first one. Almost 14,000 people attended game one, while just under 13,500 came to game two.

Answer: Ottawa Senators

Doubling up the Sens with a 4-2 win made Nashville the second fastest expansion team of the 1990s to reach the century mark in wins.

Answer: Most power play shots taken during one two-minute penalty

Records for power play goals in one period (3), power play chances in one period (7), and power play goals in one game (4) were set during this 6-2 shellacking of the Canucks on a night when neither team could stay out of the penalty box. The Vancouver squad took 15 penalties to the Predators eight, but the difference in the game rested on the conversion: Nashville went 4 for 11, while the Canucks went 0 for 8. Cliff Ronning and Kimmo Timonen each tied the team record for most points in a game with four (one goal, three assists) and Timonen's four points were also good for a new record for points scored in one game by a defenseman.

Answer: Scott Hartnell

If the NHL had still been in the years before overtime was played, this milestone goal wouldn't have happened until the following game versus the Sharks. It took overtime, but with 3:29 remaining, Dan Hamhuis and Rem Murray combined to give Hartnell the puck, who slipped it past J.S. Giguere of the Mighty Ducks for the 4-3 win and the 1000th goal in Nashville Predators history.

Answer: Steve Sullivan

Sullivan (one of my favorite ex-Devils) arrived in Nashville on February 17, 2004, and although he's only 5'9", he immediately made a huge impact on the team. The very next night, in his first game in navy and white, he scored a hat trick against the San Jose Sharks in a 7-3 win, setting a franchise record for scoring all three goals on the power play.

He also became just the second NHL player ever to record 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his first three games with a new team. The first to do it was Wayne Gretzky in 1988 with the Los Angeles Kings, of course!

Answer: Adam Hall

Hall scored just 16 seconds into the game and Tomas Vokoun was unbeatable through two periods, but the Red Wings found their scoring touch in the third, with Kris Draper scoring just 37 seconds into it. Johnson and Hartnell were credited with assists to Hall's goal, and Sullivan failed to find the net on a penalty shot 1:31 into the game.

Answer: Adam Hall

It's Hall again! Legwand opened the scoring at 18:23 of the first period, and Hall added his own just 1:22 later. Brett Hull scored one for the Red Wings in the third to keep it close, but Hartnell increased the lead by two goals again and the Predators were victors with a score of 3-1.

They would shut out the Wings in game four, but that's where the ride would end. Detroit would win game five at home 4-1, and would score two goals in the first two minutes of game six in Nashville to beat the Predators 2-0 and eliminate them from the playoffs.