Stadium Series to bring 'great atmosphere' for McDonagh, Lightning

Ryan McDonagh will play his fifth NHL outdoor game when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Nashville Predators in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Feb. 26, 2022, and said the experience never gets old.

"I think the crowd just brings such a great atmosphere to the event," the Lightning defenseman said Wednesday. "Players]*
It will be the Predators' second regular-season outdoor game. They lost the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 4-2 to the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
"I'm fortunate to be part of some amazing events here ... the (2016) NHL All-Star Game and when we went to the (2017) Stanley Cup Final and seeing this city rally behind our team is amazing," Nashville captain Roman Josi said. "The Winter Classic was something you never forget. Those experiences playing outdoor games are unbelievable, and to do it at home in Nashville is going to be amazing.
"I'm sure there's going to be a lot of Lightning fans, but I can't wait to see the stadium in gold, so it's going to be a really cool experience."
McDonagh played four outdoor games with the New York Rangers (2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia; two 2014 Stadium Series games at Yankee Stadium in New York; 2018 Winter Classic at Citi Field in New York).
"Playing outside definitely makes you feel younger," McDonagh said. "You remember your days as a kid just playing under the light, under the stars."

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning will play their first outdoor game and be the 27th NHL team to participate in one. Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman will play his first in the NHL.
"I think this stadium holds more than the city where I grew up (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden), so it'll be different than what I experienced as a kid," Hedman said. "But it brings back all the memories, the people you grew up with, your friends back home. All you wanted to do was play hockey outside in Sweden. We played until dinnertime and then went back out again, and that's where I grew up loving the sport.
"I've been with the Lightning for 13 years now and this is going to be one of the highlights for sure."
Lightning chief executive officer Steve Griggs said fans may want to consider special shoes for the occasion.
"We're going to bring all our Bolts Nation and they're going to change out their flip-flops and wear some cowboy boots for a full week," he said. "We're excited about that."