Opening Night W! Bonus Episode: The Predators Official Podcast

Opening Night W! Bonus Episode: The Predators Official Podcast

Welcome in to a special undefeated edition of the Predators official podcast here on Nashville Predators.com, Predators YouTube, your favorite podcast platform, and ESPN 1025 the game. A special short Friday edition of the show after the Predators won two to one against the Columbus Blue Jackets on opening night Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena. My name is Max Hurst from Predadio joined by Cara Hammer from Predv and Brooks Bratton of Nashville Predators.com. I got to start with a question for you guys because I told multiple people this week that I was predicting the pres to win 2 to1 on opening night and I cannot remember who those people were who I told and I really hope it was one of you guys so you can vouch for my correctness here on the podcast. I don’t believe it was one of us. I do know that you had a predicted goal scorer of Michael McCarron, which didn’t come to fruition, but like we were joking about, hey, at least you were close. You picked somebody on the team. We just uh just started with the name Michael just the wrong just the wrong guy. Michael Bunting got this got the scoring started. Uh Brooks, were you aware of Max’s prediction here? I don’t seem to recall. I myself called a 3-1 prediction yesterday with an empty netter. So, I was really hoping for that empty netter at the end, but uh what a start. I think we’re all at least Cara and I were talking beforehand. We’re all a little blur eyed this morning, but uh we’re not used to covering hockey games till 11 or 12:00 at night, but uh certainly well worth it to get a win on night one. But guys, nobody was putting in more work than Brady Martin’s family. Uh, we have to give a shout out. The 18-year-old making his NHL debut last night on opening night. Uh, I think he had 30 to 40 family members and friends in the building. His brothers drove overnight the night before down from Elmyra, Ontario. I think it was like an 11 or 15 hour drive. Came to the game. They’re already on their way back to Canada where they work on the family farm. But you guys, so many special moments happening on the gold carpet. had a chance to to catch up with Brady Martin’s mom. Uh we all we all saw it. Some videos have been posted. He Brady walked the gold carpet, saw his family, his mom for the first time in six weeks. They embraced in this hug. People started chanting Brady. I mean, it was just one of those tearjerker moments. And uh it was just really neat. So, I I I caught up with her and I asked about being here with Brady and she told me, she goes, “You know, he’s my person.” She goes, “His dad was always working on the farm. It was him and I who were doing the road trips together, going to the hockey rings, doing the miles.” She said, “I’m so proud of him.” And she goes, “One thing about him, he’s an underdog. He’s going to outwork you. He’s the hardest working kid I know. And uh he’s here. He’s going to take your job.” And guys, that’s why he was starting on the top line last night with Philip Forsber and Ryan O’Reilly. He earned that position. And uh Brooks, you were there. You witnessed it all. It was it was just really a special moment. Yeah, that to to see him embrace his family, Cara, as you said, at the end of the gold carpet. He didn’t know they were going to be there. And it was one of the one of the best hugs that I’ve ever witnessed in person. I mean, you could just he you could see the pride from his parents, especially. It was a beautiful moment with his mom and his dad and as you said, his siblings and 30 friends and family, a lot of them rocking the bright red Sue Greyhounds jerseys as well. Um, they had just gotten there. They had just literally gotten out of the car, got to the hotel, freshened up a little bit, came over to the arena, and and what a special night. And it it wasn’t perfect, right? It’s never going to be when you’re 18 years old, you’re going up against men. I think one of the quotes of the night was uh Brady Martin saying after the fact that he was involved in a little bit of a scrum in the third period in front of the net and he was like, “Yeah, I think I’ve got to hit the gym. I’ve realized that everybody out there’s stronger than I am, which is again when you’re 18 going against 25, 30 year olds, that’s what’s going to happen.” But what a just a really memorable night for Brady Martin and certainly the first of many games in the National Hockey League. And you’ll guys get a kick out of this. We know that he lived with Phil for a little bit over the summer when he was here starting camp. I asked his mom about that and she said, “Phil is amazing. They took him in. They were his second family here.” She goes, “But one thing about it is Phil is really healthy. He doesn’t eat any junk food.” So, she told me that it was Aaron who had a secret snack cupboard and was showing Brady this is where we hide the donuts cuz he was trying to beef up a little bit. So, uh maybe he needs to go back to the Forsbergs and have Aaron show him, hey, the secret stash in their house. Oh my god, that’s so funny. That’s the type of stuff that makes hockey so special. So, shout out to Brady Martin’s crew, his parents, his three siblings, two of which look literally exactly like him, by the way. His girlfriend, coaches, tons of friends from Elmyra and friends and coaches from the Sue. All came down to Smashville. So happy to have them. And they also absolutely raided the PR’s team store before the game. I think they actually got a private session in the team store to get some 44 jerseys ready for Brady Martin’s NHL debut. It wasn’t just the Martin crew on the Goldwalk, guys. We had Pred’s kiddos everywhere coming down the gold carpet with their dads. I don’t even know who to start with, but I guess we’ll go in ascending age order with the new record for the youngest baby to ever be carried down the Goldwalk. 13-year-old, sorry, 13 day old baby boy Bo Bunting carried by Michael Bunting, who scored the first goal of the season as a first time dad. Well, you you talk about new dad energy, right? I I would have to imagine I I don’t know if either of you got a chance to talk to him. I would have to imagine though that puck is going to Bo. And you love when that happens. It happens so often in the NHL. I don’t know about other sports when guys have kids and they come back if they hit a home run or pass for a touchdown or anything like that, but in hockey, I love when it happens because it just seems to happen. And it was a perfect way to start the season. Michael Bunting, the loud line uh getting on the board there with just a little bit of a ricochet into the twine. And uh yeah, nice little present for Bo there. And yeah, totally agree, Max. There’s there’s no way that there’s anyone uh younger than two weeks that has ever made their way down the gold carpet. As you guys know, we’ve added Mike Kelly to our our FanDuel broadcast, and he’s bringing uh stats all season long throughout the game, but we may need to have this stat. How many PRs players have had a baby and come back and scored a goal? Because I know I’ve covered numerous uh instances of this happening. And Michael Bunting came out for my first intermission interview, and the first thing I said to him was, “Hey, that’s that new dad strength.” And he goes, “New dad goal.” And I’m like, “Yes, here we go. Also, it wasn’t just Michael Bunting. That line, they had had so much chemistry during training camp. Eric Holland, Jonathan Marsheso, Michael Bunting, and uh that really seemed to carry over. Yeah. And uh Eric H, excuse me, Eric Holland may have won my award for cutest kids on the Goldwalk. We had a lot of cute kids out there. his two little boys were running the show and one of them just took off. He was a runner. He was the fastest kid alive and they were super super cute. So great to have the whole hall of family of four here in Smashville after the last time he was here co was going on. He just had a baby. Uh he said in his preseason press conference that he was just sleeping on a mattress on the floor. That’s how not settled he was the last time he was on the PRS. And now this time he has made up for it by moving into Gus Nyquist’s house which Halla said is a mansion. So the Hall of family is living well right now. Two cute little boys. Welcome them to the Pred Goldwalk for the first time. Yeah, they were out there running around. The the Stam Coast kids were there. The O’Reillys have a gaggle of children. Yeah, it was I I you know, we don’t keep official records on this, but I’ve got to think it it may have been the most highly attended Gold Walk for Children of Predators players. Of course, the Yosi kids were out there. Uh the eldest McCarron child, the new one was not specifically on the Goldwalk. We hear the the boy Jet was out there. Um but yeah, what a what a fun way to start out and what a great night it was overall. I mean, it it wasn’t perfect. It never is on opening night, but they don’t ask how, they ask how many. And it took the Predators six games to get one win last season. We all know that. It took them just under three hours in the new season to get win number one. That just what that does for your mental psyche that to have a really good camp, but it’s all talk until you actually go out there and do it. And to get that first one and have something to build off of going into Saturday against Utah is just such an important way to start this season, especially the way that things went last year. That was the way the Pred were going to have to win this game. Close game. Great goalending from Jussi Sorrowos. Number one star with a hoham. 37 saves to start the season on opening night. Just made it look easy. But uh the the new things worked. The new Dzone system allowed Sorrowos to see a lot of those shots. Made some good clean saves, earned that win in goal. The second period was not good. Predators probably deserve to be trailing coming out of that second period, but they got a good penalty kill toward the end. Jussi Sorrows made some big saves at even strength along the way. And then the Blue Jackets had their goal overturned on a successful goalie interference challenge by the Pred. Set the stage and gave the Presum to come out as the better team in the third period. score the early power play goal by Ryan O’Reilly that became the game winner. Beautiful goal from O’Reilly going backhand top shelf on Jet Greavves in tight on the power play. And then from there, the Pred almost never gave the Blue Jackets the puck back. That’s how you protect a lead and that’s how you earn an opening night win. And that’s exactly what Ryan O’Reilly talked about in the post game, that third period. That’s exactly what the Predators hope to be more often than not. The way that they played in that third period, up on their toes, in people’s faces, not allowing Columbus a whole heck of a lot. As you said, Max, Jussi Sorrowos was excellent. He needed to be. It It could have been. The Jackets certainly could have had a few there uh in the first couple of periods. They only got one. And for Nashville to not only lock it down in the third, but continue to push, they could have had a couple more easily in the third period as well. The Pres could have. And you mentioned Ryan O’Reilly’s goal. You got to throw this stat out. So it was Philip Forsber on the primary assist. It is now 10 straight season opening games that Philip Forsber has recorded a point. Count it up, Max. 10. He’s one of only five players in recent memory to hit that streak. So what a night for Philip Forsber. What a night for the PRs. Uh, and again, I I just think that that third period, the way that the PR showed in that setting to be able to build off of that, that’s really something you can take away going forward. Lots to clean up, as Ryan O’Reilly said, but also a great building block in that final frame. Yeah, fun for sure. And we get to do it again Saturday night in Smashville, Saturday, October 11th. We hope to see you here at Bridgestone Arena as the Predators take on the recently renamed Utah mammoth in the first ever Ice Age Rivalry game. It’s here at Printstone Arena. And those of you watching on video, I actually have something to show you. So, the Ice Age rivalry at Saturday’s game are presented by our friends at Icy. The Icy Bear has his pretz sweater on. And you can get these Icy Fang freeze cups at Bridgestone Arena. They will be discounted on Saturday. You get one, then you can bring it back and keep refilling it for a lower price all season with the Icy Bear. You can get it at the concession stands at section 106, 120, 208, and 301. And if you want to see this one in person, come see us at the Jack Daniels Barrel House where we have lots of fun stuff on display. But I love the Icy Bear. Yeah. Well, like we saw Feder Speedgoff skipping down the gold carpet. I’m sure we’ll see Brooks and his Brooks Whites on his way to grab one of those. Icies. They’re not just for movie theaters anymore. No, that’s great. I uh I that’s a there’s a lot of great promotions honestly going on, but it was a great atmosphere in the building too last night. I think that’s one thing that you know going into opening night. Philip Forsber said he expected greatness from the Predators fans. They delivered on opening night and uh we’ll certainly expect more of the same on Saturday. But what a fun way to start our Friday morning. Just uh a little waking up and uh talking about a Predator’s win. No better way to start the day. Yeah. We’ll see everybody Saturday night in Smashville at Bridgestone Arena. We’ll be back with a fulllength episode next Wednesday from Canada as the Predators hit the road for the first time this season. I’m Max Hers from PRS Radio. You can follow me on Twitter at Max Hers Talks. I’m Carrie Hammer. Check us out all season on FanDuel Sports Network. We’ll see you Saturday night in Smashville. I’m Brooks Bratton. You can follow me at Brooks Bratton on X and read my work on Nashville Predators.com. The Nashville Predators are 1 and0 to start the season. Looking to make it two on Saturday night. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. Have a great weekend. Enjoy the hockey. [Music]

Brooks Bratten, Kara Hammer and Max Herz break down Opening Night, including:

🏒 Brady Martin’s debut
🌟 Pregame Gold Walk
🥅 Juuse Saros’ 37-save game
🧀 Ryan O’Reilly’s top cheddar
🎉 First win of the season

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