Ryan McDonagh will be making an odd return to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, October 10, his first time since July 2022. It will be an odd homecoming for the 34-year-old blueliner since he will be headed there as a Nashville Predator.
Like most NHL players, McDonagh already tried to get used to the new conditions when he takes the ice at Amalie Arena. This happened last September 30 when McDonagh skated in that game to get an emotional feel, part of his preparations for the season opener, NHL.com reported.
"That's why I wanted to go there for a preseason game, just to get some of the emotions out. Get into the visiting room there so it's not too foreign to me when I walk in there [Tuesday]. I think it was good that we played them a couple of times during the preseason," McDonagh said.
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After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups (2020 and 2021) with the Lightning, it is understandable that McDonagh is having difficulty getting over his stint there.
"At least I got the emotions of the first time being back in the building and the tribute video and stuff out of the way so I can just focus on playing. Obviously, Tampa still holds a special place in my heart with all of the success and memories that we had. But at the end of the day, it's a great place to start for Game 1," he added.
Odds are stacked on the Predators
The puck drop between the Lighting and the Predators is at 5:30 p.m. E.T.
The Predators are expected to improve their offense under new coach Andrew Brunette, a shift from their usual defensive-first approach, USA Today reported. Adding Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn should help in that aspect.
The Lightning are -160 betting favorites to prevail over the Predators, who are at +135, per BetMGM Sportsbook.
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