NHL’s Predators honor Nashville shooting victims with helmet stickers and a minute’s silence
The NHL’s Predators honor victims of the Nashville shooting with helmet stickers and a minute’s silence, after defenseman Ryan McDonagh skipped the team’s flight to Boston to be with his three daughters after the closing school
The Nashville Predators honored the victims of the fatal Tennessee school shooting with some helmet stickers, a moment of silence and a 2-1 win over the Bruins in Boston on Wednesday as the region continues to recover from the tragedy.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh played in the game, filming a Predators assistant, after missing the team’s flight to Boston.
In fact, she stayed home Monday to be with her three young daughters in the shaken community.
One day after a fatal shooting at a Nashville elementary school that left six people dead, including three children, McDonagh took a commercial flight to Boston.
‘Not really the first shooting, unfortunately. When you have kids and it happens close to home, it’s definitely different,” McDonagh said. ‘Like any parent, you do everything you can to help your family and children.’
The Nashville Covenant School logo is displayed on the back of Rasmus Asplund’s helmet.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh played in the game after missing the team’s flight to Boston.
McDonagh’s daughters Falan, Murphy and Nola are under 9 years old.
“Her daughter was close to school, her school was closed,” coach John Hynes said.
Said McDonagh: “Frankly, there are no words you can say after what happened yesterday in Nashville.”
‘Just a tragedy for those families and all those affected. You don’t really realize it until you have your own children and the perspective. It hits you,’ she said.
McDonagh said it wasn’t just another game as the Predators beat the NHL-leading Bruins.
“We felt like we needed to go out there and do our job to the best of our ability and sacrifice and lay it all out and just try to bring a little bit of inspiration to the city of Nashville,” McDonagh said.
Hynes spoke to his team about the situation.
“It’s something we talk about with our guys, we’re on a platform here as professional athletes and coaches,” he said. ‘The city of Nashville means a lot to these people. We wanted to do our best for the first responders, for the people involved in the incident: the families, the school. We are very proud of the boys.
An ambulance leaves the Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Nashville.
House lights dim in Boston during a moment of silence for the Nashville victims
The Predators released a statement following the shooting earlier in the week.
The Predators and Bruins wore helmet decals to show their support for The Covenant School, where three 9-year-old students and three adult staff were killed.
The Bruins also observed a moment of silence before the national anthem.
“The Bruins stand with the Nashville Predators in solidarity against gun violence and their support of the Nashville community,” the PA announcer said.
Nashville is trying to make a run for the eighth and final playoff spot and won for the third time in eight games.
Hynes talked to her team about the few hours of relief her team could provide people at home.
“We talked to our guys about it,” he said. “Sometimes when things are tough in life, part of sports, it’s for the players and the people involved, but I think for the fans, it’s an opportunity to take a few hours and maybe get away from a few things in your That was the message we brought to the game.
McDonagh’s daughters Falan, Murphy and Nola are under 9 years old.