Over the past year or so, Nashville has become one of the most fun hockey cities in the NHL. Their 8th-seed march to the Stanley Cup Finals last season sparked a very unique culture that honestly looks like it’s a blast. Smashville was born.
One of the traditions that Nashville has started up is singing The Beatles’ famous hit “Let It Be” during goal reviews. The hope is that their light-hearted attitude of telling the refs to let a Nashville goal be will somehow influence a decision. While this is obviously not the case, the effort has now become an amazing tradition that gives Bridgestone Arena a concert-like atmosphere.
On Friday, Nick Bonino redirected a puck with his skate in the 3rd period, sending the puck barreling past a red-hot Andrew Hammond and into the net. The goal was a crucial one, as it was the first goal of the game and it wasn’t scored until over halfway through the final frame. With the Predators on the verge of moving on, the goal could have spelled the end of an inspiring resurgent season from the Avalanche.
As the commentator mentions, that rendition may be the loudest yet – it was likely the most important goal review since Nashville started the singing. The phone lights and sing alongs even carried all the way outside of the arena. For the record, the no-goal call was reversed and Bonino's goal was "let be". Unfortunately for the musical audience, the Avalanche would come back and win it in thrilling fashion.
The “Let It Be” sing along started two weeks ago when the Predators were playing the Buffalo Sabres, and you can be sure it’s not going anywhere. While goaltender interference and goal reviews in general are the source of a lot of ire for some NHL fans, hopefully The Beatles can help to ease the tense moments before the ref signals for a good goal or not.
(H/T /u/vorin, NBC Sports Broadcast)
