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Like any good fisherman, Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette doesn't want to think about the big one that got away -- and he reminded the team's fans of that point. Hours before the Predators were set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Laviolette on Monday asked Nashville fans to refrain from throwing catfish on the ice via a video posted on the team's official website.
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Fans tossed five catfish, along with other regalia, onto the ice at Bridgestone Arena during the Predators' 5-1 victory in Game 3 that narrowed their best-of-seven series deficit to 2-1.
A Nashville fan also heaved a dead catfish onto the ice in the waning stages of Game 1 at Pittsburgh.
PSA from Head Coach Peter Laviolette. pic.twitter.com/UyMuWDCneJ
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 5, 2017
Laviolette's message to the home crowd is basically a pre-emptive strike to prevent the officiating crew from tagging his team with a delay-of-game penalty.
"Hey everyone, showing good sportsmanship is part of being good citizens of Smashville. That means not throwing anything on the ice, putting both our players and the officials in danger," Laviolette said in the video. "Help us secure our home-ice advantage and prevent us from being penalized for unnecessary reasons. Please don't throw anything on the ice and thank you for being the best fans in the National Hockey League."
Backed by their raucous home fans, the Predators are 8-1 in the postseason at Bridgestone Arena. Game 5 is scheduled for Pittsburgh on Thursday, with Game 6, if necessary, set for Nashville on Sunday.
