NHL playoffs 2018: Titans' lineman turns catfish into beer luge at Predators game

Evan Sporer

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NHL playoffs 2018: Titans' lineman turns catfish into beer luge at Predators game image

Each NHL arena has its own quirks and traditions. At Joe Louis Arena (and now Little Caesar's) in Detroit, fans throw octopi onto the ice; at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, fans belt out "true North" in concert when the Canadian national anthem is being sung.

In Nashville, their trademark hometown item is the catfish, also flung onto the ice before puck drop. But on Sunday, before Game 2 between the Predators and Jets, the scaly fish friend was used for something entirely different.

It began like so many important Predators home games do, with a pan to a group of very large fans in attendance: the offensive line of the Tennessee Titans. Another fixture at Bridgestone Arena, these larger-than-most human can usually be seen chugging beers, yelling, and pumping up the crowd. But what gets fans pumped even more than 300-plus pound humans guzzling down Bud Light Stone Cold Steve Austin style? That's right: combining the catfish and the beer into one slightly disgusting, slightly hypnotizing routine.

That's where Taylor Lewan came in. He was one of the Titans offensive lineman in attendance, and when it came time to drink some beer, Lewan didn't take out a straw, or funnel (well, a conventional funnel) but his trusty catfish, which he turned into a beer luge.

Please note: Sporting News does not suggest the consumption of alcohol via raw, uncooked fish. Perhaps Lewan's fish-frat stunt did the trick: Nashville gutted out a double-overtime Game 2 victory to even the series at 1-1.

Predators honor Waffle House hero

James Shaw Jr.'s quick thinking and heroic intervention help to possibly save the lives of many. Last Sunday, Shaw helped to disarm a gunman who shot four dead and injured many other in a Waffle House in Antioch.

On Sunday, the Predators brought Shaw to Bridgestone Arena for Game 2 to recognize his bravery and honor the local hero.

With a bandage around his forearm covering where a bullet grazed his elbow, Shaw was brought down to the locker room area pregame where he was introduced to Predators players and coaches and presented with his own custom jersey.

Shaw was also recognized in-game when shown on the video board during a stoppage in play.

Shaw has also raised over $200,000 for the victims of that shooting through a GoFundMe page that had an original goal of $15,000.

Evan Sporer