NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Leading into a night the Lightning have been anticipating for months, players kept telling themselves the most important part of competing in the franchise’s first outdoor game was coming home with two points.
But Saturday night’s Stadium Series game against the Predators at the Titans’ Nissan Stadium was no ordinary NHL regular-season game. Even after hoisting the Stanley Cup the past two seasons, they’ve never really been in a showcase event like this one.
The atmosphere for the Lightning’s 3-2 win over the Predators seemed more like a Super Bowl, fitting for an NFL stadium. Big-name musical acts playing during breaks in play. Fireworks lit up the night sky. The game drew a prime-time weekend national TV slot.
