Fans welcome back Predators after clinching playoff berth

Grogg said she couldn’t be anywhere other than Nashville International Airport.

“It’s fun. It’s just to show these guys we believe in them and no matter what happens, win or lose, we’re behind them and we’re going to be behind them,” she said.

Fans met the Predators on their return flight following a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators clinched the first playoff berth in the six-year history of the franchise late Saturday night when the Edmonton Oilers lost their regular-season finale to Vancouver.

Nashville coach Barry Trotz said the team watched the end of that game in the hotel lobby in Denver, and that they celebrated in the lobby by high-fiving each other when they clinched.

A couple of Predators were posing with fans Sunday in the parking lot for pictures and there were dozens of signs with slogans like “Thank You, Preds” and “Lord Stanley Here We Come.”

“The last 24 hours were a fantastic roller-coaster ride and we’re just on top of the world right now,” team owner Craig Leipold said.

Nashville will begin the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings, the top seed in the Western Conference. The first game of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in Detroit.

Nashville will host games three and four of the series on Sunday and April 13. The Predators also will host game six on April 17 if necessary.
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