Once upon a time, there was an NHL franchise awarded to a southern city in the United States. This city was very famous for it’s country music heritage. Many people thought that a hockey team would have trouble surviving in this atmosphere, where Minnie Pearle and Buck Owens centered on the main stage. Could a bunch of guys wearing skates and flying around on a sheet of ice actually make in here? The evil King Gary Bettman was sure of it.
Excavation began at the downtown site of what today is a 28-story building. Construction workers drilled through 20 feet of solid rock before revealed a cave containing the nine-inch fang and a foreleg bone of a saber-toothed tiger, extinct for at least 10,000 years. Viola! The Nashville Predators were born.
In their first season, the Predators went 28-47-7, finishing well done the list of those eligible to visit the Silver City and earn a chance to hold the Cup. For the first five seasons, their record was a dismal 145-216-49-17, (W-L-T-OTL), and they had to stay home and watch others play into June. In the 2002-2003 season, the Pred went 38-29-11-4 and were allowed for the first time to travel down the Silver Brick Road and try to meet King Bettman and the Silver Cup! But alas. They were stopped short in their quest.
Then the evil King and the NHLPA Munchkins got into a fight and a season was cancelled! All was lost. But, the next year, with new rules and richer Munchkins, the Predators were back!And they came back in a great way! With a 100-48-16 record, the Predators went down the Silver Road two years in a row. But, in both years they were unable to travel down to the gates of Championship Game City.
Dark clouds loomed over Nashville. The good witch Craig Leipold was not able to make tons of gold bouillon like he wanted to. Trying to save money, he first sold off all the best Munchkins he had. And then put the team up for sale. The witch of the north, Basille the Blackberry, tried to take the team, but the evil King fought off his advances. Now, the good people of Nashville have put in an attempt to keep their team in town. In the mean time, the Predators gave hope to all. Winning their first two games by a combined score of 9-1, one of their best players being goaltender Chris Mason, was having a great start. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. They have lost their last six games by a total of 25-9, and their last two by scores of 3-0 and 6-0. It seems the fairy tale has come to an end.Reality has set in.
