Nashville hockey game is disrupted catfish is thrown on the ice

Reel in your fans! Hockey game in Nashville is disrupted after a CATFISH is thrown onto the ice… just missing Predators and Bruins players who were skating below

Typically, you’d need to go to a frozen lake or pond and drill a hole through the ice to find some fish this time of year. But in Nashville, it seems all you have to do is go to a hockey game.

The floundering Nashville Predators hosted the NHL-leading Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena and found themselves down 4-0 late in the second period.

One fan seemingly wanted to inject some energy into the crowd – or maybe was protesting the poor performance – when he lobbed a catfish over the glass and onto the ice.

Cameras caught the fish flying on the ice while the puck was still in play, leading to the officials blowing a whistle and killing the play.

While the fish didn’t hit a player – falling somewhere between Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh and Bruins center Charlie Coyle – announcers were quick to criticize the fan for the timing of the throw.

A Nashville Predators fan tossed a catfish onto the ice in Thursday night’s game against Boston

The catfish fell in the left circle during play, missing two players who were skating nearby

The catfish fell in the left circle during play, missing two players who were skating nearby

This sight is not uncommon in Nashville, which has seen catfish flying onto the ice since 1999, according to The Tennessean.

While it dates that far back, the sight of flying catfish became more common in Nashville in the mid-to-late-2010s when the team made a number of runs in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

During the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, a Nashville fan travelled to Pittsburgh when the team was playing the Penguins and let the fish fly.

But that fan, Jake Waddell was caught by police and charged with disorderly conduct, disrupting a meeting, and possession of an instrument of crime. 

Those charges were eventually dropped and catfish continued hitting the ice throughout the rest of that series.

Nashville is not the only hockey franchise known for tossing aquatic creatures onto the ice.

Since 1952, fans of the Detroit Red Wings have been tossing octopuses on the ice – with the eight legs of the octopus representing the eight wins a team needed to hoist Lord Stanley’s trophy.

These days, a team needs to win 16 games to get their hands on the cup, but the tradition remains in Detroit – so much so that the octopus became a mascot for the team.

Nashville fans aren't the only ones who throw sea creatures: Detroit has thrown octopuses on the ice for decades dating all the way back to 1952

Nashville fans aren’t the only ones who throw sea creatures: Detroit has thrown octopuses on the ice for decades dating all the way back to 1952

Since then, a large octopus named 'Al' has become the mascot for the team

Since then, a large octopus named ‘Al’ has become the mascot for the team

The game did not end well for Nashville, with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman keeping a shutout

The game did not end well for Nashville, with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman keeping a shutout

Swayman stopped 28 shots on the night en route to a commanding 5-0 win for the Bruins

Swayman stopped 28 shots on the night en route to a commanding 5-0 win for the Bruins

If that fan’s intention was to get some energy into the team to inspire a comeback, his efforts were in vain.

Boston scored another goal and held the shutout to win the game 5-0 on the road.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman saved 28 shots to keep the scoresheet clean, with goals coming from Brad Marchand, Craig Smith, Patrice Bergeron, Derek Forbort, and Trent Frederic.

The Bruins are on top of the NHL standings with 87 points, while Nashville is struggling to stay in the playoff race currently five points out of a wildcard spot.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk