This Month in Smashville History: March

Throughout the 2023-24 season, the Nashville Predators will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary in Smashville.

As we near the end of the campaign, let’s take a look at how the Predators got here with a look at some of the top moments in each month of Smashville's 25-year history.

How many of these March events do you remember?

2001

March 23

General Manager David Poile is one of three recipients of the 2001 Lester Patrick Award, an honor presented annually "for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.”

2006

March 18

Nashville defeats Calgary 9-4 at Bridgestone Arena for its 40th win of the 2005-06 season, the first 40-win season in franchise history. The Predators end the season with a record of 49-25-8 and lead the NHL with 32 home wins.

2010

The Predators ownership group announces a change in the leadership of its board of directors, as Tom Cigarran became the club's new chairman.

2012

March 22 

The Predators announce the results of a study which found the team and Bridgestone Arena generate an annual economic impact of approximately $410 million and support more than 2,350 jobs annually.

March 30

Nashville records the 500th regular-season victory in club history with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. The Predators hit the milestone in 1,062 games, the fewest in the post-1990 expansion era. David Poile becomes the first GM to guide two separate clubs to 500 wins, and Barry Trotz becomes just the fifth bench boss to post 500 wins with a single team.

2014 

March 1 

Spearheaded by the generosity of Predators Captain Shea Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne, the Predators Foundation announces the rebranding of the Nashville Predators Pediatric Cancer Fund at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund. As part of the 365 Fund, Weber and Rinne purchase two suites at Bridgestone Arena to host patients and families from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital.

2017

March 2

The Predators announce the development of a new ice rink at One Bellevue Place. This is the second location the Preds have created to grow the sport of hockey throughout Middle Tennessee, the first being Ford Ice Center in Antioch. The Predators are now involved in three of Nashville's biggest recreational operations in Ford Ice Center, Centennial Sportsplex and Bellevue.

2018

March 1

Predators General Manager David Poile becomes the winningest GM in NHL history with his 1,320th victory.

March 8

Nashville's top line combines for six points as the Predators defeat the Anaheim Ducks by a 4-2 final at Bridgestone Arena. The victory extends Nashville's franchise-record win streak to 10 games and gives them a three-game sweep in their season series with their California rival.

March 19

With a 4-0 victory in Buffalo, Nashville extends its then franchise-record point streak to 15 games (14-0-1), road winning streak to nine games and road point streak to 15 games (12-0-3).

March 23

For the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators sell out of season tickets. In an effort to meet the continued demand, the organization creates Smashville Select, an opportunity for fans to reserve their spot on the Season Tickets Waitlist.

March 29

Nashville hosts its 100th consecutive sellout, a century mark of regular-season and playoff contests that have seen at least 17,113 patrons in the building for every game over the past two calendar years.

2019

March 25

Rem Pitlick makes his NHL debut in his home state of Minnesota as the Preds defeat the Wild, 1-0, and clinch their fifth consecutive playoff berth.

March 29

Craig Smith scores his 20th goal of the season, becoming the second player in Preds history (Filip Forsberg) to record five 20-goal campaigns.

2020

March 3

Nashville and Middle Tennessee are devastated by deadly tornadoes. In the following weeks, the Predators and Bridgestone Arena raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for relief and recovery efforts.

March 12

The NHL pauses the 2019-20 season due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. All games are postponed indefinitely as the season is put on hold.

2022

March 17

During a 5-4 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Predators Captain Roman Josi eclipses Paul Kariya's single season assist record with his 55th helper on a Filip Forsberg goal. Kariya's 54 assists stood as a team record for 15 years after his outstanding 2005-06 season (31g-54a-85pts).

March 19

With 211 goals as a Nashville Predator, Filip Forsberg sets a new franchise record for career goal scoring during a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Swedish forward passed David Legwand (210g-356a-566pts) to become the greatest goal scorer in Nashville's history. Forsberg accomplished the feat at just 27 years old and at a faster pace (546 GP) than Legwand (956 GP), who departed the Music City with the record in his age 33 season.

March 21

In a 6-3 road victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Forsberg breaks Viktor Arvidsson's franchise record for goals scored in a single season with his 35th tally of the 2021-22 campaign.

2023

March 12

Captain Roman Josi reaches 600 NHL points, becoming the second-fastest active defensemen to reach the milestone.

March 21

The Predators bury a time capsule dedicated to Pekka Rinne at the site where a bronze statue of the franchise goaltender will be placed days later. The capsule, which will be reopened in March 2058, contains memorabilia, trinkets and letters from fans.

March 25

The Predators unveil a life-sized bronze statue of Pekka Rinne at its permanent location on the Bridgestone Arena plaza. In attendance are Pekka's friends, family and former teammates - as well as several hundred fans.

2024

March 21

The Predators establish a franchise-record 16-game point streak (14-0-2) in a 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers.

March 23

The Predators establish the longest point streak of the 2023-24 NHL campaign and their second straight shutout in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

March 26

The Predators erase a three-goal deficit in the third period and Josi scores in overtime to pull off a thrilling come-from-behind, 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights and stretch Nashville’s historic point streak to 18 games (16-0-2). 

Scoring in the third period, Forsberg reaches the 40-goal mark for the second time of his career and becomes the first player in Predators history to record multiple 40-goal campaigns and multiple 80-point campaigns.

March 28

Josi skates in his 900th career NHL game and records three assists to reach 500 career helpers, Colton Sissons records his 200th career point and Forsberg establishes the longest goal streak in franchise history (7) in an 8-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Nashville’s historic win streak is snapped at 18 games in the Predators first regulation loss in a month and a half.