Ninety minutes before the Predators’ season opener Thursday, the Bridgestone Arena plaza sat dark. There were no gold carpet arrivals, no snappily dressed players snapping selfies with fans.
Inside, the sound of a catfish smacking the ice right before puck drop could be heard from the upper bowl. (At least it was wearing a mask.)
Opening night for the Predators, like most things in Nashville, is an event, but that was not possible Thursday. The team erred on the side of caution by deciding not to have spectators despite the local health department approving 15 percent capacity for January games. (Those in attendance Thursday were mostly players’ family members and hometown heroes, including the six police officers who responded to the Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville.)
“We miss the fans,” Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. “We want it to be rocking (with) 18,000 people getting wild for us. I thought the people that…
