The NHL season is already well underway, and with that many goals are going to be scored. To go along with these goals, each team's home arena has their own unique way of celebrating each one.
I decided, in the spirit of competition, to see which team has the best and worst goal songs. Each team will be ranked based on a combination of their goal horn as well as the song that accompanies it.
Without further ado, here are my picks from worst to first.
31. Carolina Hurricanes
There isn't one thing right about this one. The horn is boring, the song is atrocious, even the Ric Flair "WOO!" has next to no emotion. This was the easiest choice for me to put at the bottom.
30. St. Louis Blues
I kinda see what the Blues are trying to do here, but they need to lay this song to rest. For a franchise that should be trying to escape the recent heartbreak as far as playoff losses go, they should be moving on from the old timey organ music. Something a little more modern and less depressing would do wonders for their arena sounds.
29. Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo actually has a killer horn, but it's instantly ruined by the use of DJ Kool's "Let Me Clear My Throat". The song is a hip hop anthem and should be respected; however, in a large atmosphere like an arena it doesn't sound great and is way too busy.
28. Vegas Golden Knights
For a team that has done everything right, they really screwed this one up. I understand wanting to use a song like "Vegas Lights" as it literally says Vegas in the title. However, the song sounds like a mess while the horn is bellowing over top of it, and it never really recovers into something good.
27. Anaheim Ducks
This one has tons of potential but the execution is a mess. The song is a great choice to get the crowd fired up and chanting along. The horn, however, is too loud and obnoxious to be played over top of the perfect crowd chanting song. It would only take a couple of tweaks to turn this into a great goal song, but for now it'll stay near the bottom.
26. Dallas Stars
Dallas does something a little different here by having Pantera sing their own fight song. I'll give them credit for originality, but the song is not very good at all. The DALLAS! STARS! chant is pretty lame, and then followed by a guitar riff that sounds like the crowd should be angry as opposed to celebrating.
Kudos for trying something interesting though.
25. Ottawa Senators
The Senators don't do much right these days, and this is no exception. The horn in my opinion is fantastic. Multi burst, different lengths, different timing, it really hammers home the fact that the Senators ACTUALLY just scored a goal. However, the song choice is about as weak as it can get.
I get it, "Song 2" by The Blur is an instant jock jam classic, but that's all it should be... a classic. In the grand scheme of things, Ottawa hasn't been around long enough to claim a classic jock jam as one of their goal songs. On top of that, the song is kinda boring and overplayed. It doesn't bring the 12-ish fans at the Canadian Tire Centre to their feet.
24. Florida Panthers
This one actually isn't too bad. I love "Sweetness" by Jimmy Eat World, but not so much as an arena anthem. There's plenty of better options out there that would probably fit their team DNA better. Also, I think the panther growl is in a real awkward spot. It would be much better suited to go off as the puck is dropped or right after the horn.
23. Detroit Red Wings
Here lies another victim of an original fight song. The song is just a tired attempt to have the world call Detroit "hockey town" (yeah right). I get it, they want to boost their brand, but this song is just boring and gets the crowd a little down.
The one thing that saves the whole process is the ridiculously obnoxious horn that the Red Wings use on top of it. As an opposing fan, you basically hear "HELL YEAH WE ARE HOCKEY TOWN AND HERE'S HOW LOUD WE CAN BE!" as three long horns blow out your ear drums.
22. San Jose Sharks
This one really isn't that bad. The Sharks cleverly use a boat horn sound to accompany their song. The problem I have with the whole piece, is that it kinda reminds me more of a basketball cheerleading show as opposed to a hockey goal song. If they used a similar, upbeat song with more of a hockey arena vibe, then the sharks would be way higher up the list.
21. Minnesota Wild
I like both the song choice and the horn for this team. The song is repeating the phrase "lets go crazy" multiple times, fitting right in with the "wild" idea. The horn is pretty cool as well. Multiple blasts and loud enough to make your ears ring.
The problem I have with the whole goal sound is the layout of everything. There's just way too much going on in order to fully appreciate the experience. The song, while fitting in with the team name, isn't one of the better songs on this list so it loses some points in that respect.
20. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers bring a much more upbeat vibe than anyone else on this list so far. Although there isn't much in terms of getting the crowd into it, there is a party-like vibe for the duration of the song. The problem I have with the sound is the horn.
The thing is excessively long and kind of annoying even if you're an Oilers fan. If they shortened up the horn and found a better sound, they could push themselves up closer to the top 10.
19. New Jersey Devils
This one is almost a tie for me with the Washington Capitals. The sounds are both very similar right from the get go. Loud horn, play music, rip the siren, celly hard. Both songs are upbeat and fun, but neither are very original and it's tough to put them any higher.
18. Washington Capitals
See New Jersey Devils.... But these guys won the cup.
17. Calgary Flames
The Flames went with a clever approach on this one and I think it turned out well. "Righteous Smoke" by Monster Truck repeatedly uses the phrase "I'm on fire" before transitioning into a different type of crowd chant. The whole experience gets the crowd into it while also using a clever play on their name.
16. Tampa Bay Lightning
This one's kinda fun. The Lightning add in literal lightning sounds while their goal horn goes off. They couple that with a more upbeat song in "Goons" by Mona, and it makes for a fun arena vibe. The whole thing sorta just leaves you wanting a little bit more though, and it never quite reaches its full potential
15. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets did something a little different with the horn and I think it paid off. Instead of the stereotypical low-sounding boom of a goal horn, the Jets went with a higher pitched train whistle. It sounds great as "Gonna Celebrate" by The Phantoms builds in the background into a full on celebration (no pun intended.)
14. Philadelphia Flyers
I had no idea what to think of this one at first. The flyers come at you with just about everything but the kitchen sink and it confuses the hell outta you - but if you sit back and enjoy it, the whole song is a riot.
They include everything from Wiz Khalifa, to Kid Cudi, even adding in some Mario sound effects in the end. It's a ride for sure, but it's also very deserving of the #14 spot.
13. Colorado Avalanche
Similar to a few others on the list, the Avalanche boast a pretty upbeat and fun song ("Chase The Sun" Avs Remix), and add in a perfectly timed siren and a few "HEY! HEY! HEY!" chants to bring it all together.
12. Vancouver Canucks
If the Canucks bring anything good into this season (aside from phenom Elias Pettersson) it'll be their goal song.
Using a great rendition of Green Day's "Holiday", the team's goal song gets the fans rowdy and ready to watch the team be below average all year long.
11. Montreal Canadiens
Yeah.... it's good.... oh well, they gotta get something right.
10. Los Angeles Kings
L.A has a song that you forget about as someone living in Canada, until you look up and realize that their fans were nuts back in their hayday. The horn is loud, Randy Newman (yeah the Toy Story guy) is singing "I Love L.A", and then all of a sudden "HEY!.... HEY!.... HEY! HEY! HEY!".
The fans love it and they scream it at the top of their lungs to everyone that comes into town.
9. Toronto Maple Leafs
This one could vary by the time the year ends as the Leafs only debuted the song this year. They decided to go with a bit of a throwback following their signature goal horn, using "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates.
You don't think anything of it until you hear the song a couple times and your headed is bobbing along with it. Then, you hear it a bunch of times and you're singing it for the rest of your life! The song has a great energy to it that really outs the boring, business-like leafs crowd in a great mood.
There's also a bit of a deeper meaning with the song, given that they haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967. Leafs fans are hoping these kids can "make their dreams come true" and bring home a Stanley Cup.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
This one may be a little biased but I absolutely love this. I remember sitting in formerly named Consol Energy Center in the 2016 playoff run, watching the Penguins dismantle the Capitals in the second round. Every time they scored, they would blast "Party Hard" by Andrew W.K throughout the arena and it gets the crowd GOING.
The atmosphere it creates is tough to match throughout the league, and it creates a boatload of momentum for the boys on the ice.
7. Boston Bruins
As a Leafs fan, it kills me to have this one so high (seeing as I think I heard it 400 times in the first round last year) but it's hard to deny that this one is easily in the top 10. I know I said the use of classic jock jams was a bad thing for the Ottawa Senators... but an original six team, using Kernkraft 400 by Zombie nation, just gets you fired up.
That, following the deep and bellowing boom that is their goal horn, gets the home fans screaming, and the away fans' blood so boiled up that they're ready to pop Brad Marchand right in his 2x4 of a nose.
6. New York Islanders
The Islanders entire goal sound feels like a complete production. Right from the start of their obnoxiously loud truck horn, to the orchestrated "WOO!" chants, all the way up to one of my favorite goal song moments... The Daniel Bryan "YES!" chants.
For those of you that don't know, Daniel Bryan is a WWE wrestler who ceremoniously uses the same "YES!" chants in the ring. The fact that the Isles fans have caught on to it is an absolute blast to watch and listen to.
5. Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes have finally found themselves in the top five of something - and boy did they earn it. They have a perfectly timed coyote howl, combo-ed with a whole bunch of others spread throughout.
Their song, "Howlin' For You" by The Black Keys, is a perfect choice as a goal song. A great blend of upbeat, and hilariously clever, the song keeps the crowd on their feet and cheering no matter how bad their team is.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
What you think of this one definitely depends on which side you're cheering for. If you're an opponent, then the cannon fire from "For Those About To Rock" by AC/DC is the most annoying thing on the planet; for Jackets fans, that's the symbol of your team as a whole. They fire off that cannon with pride every. single. time.
Sure, you hate hearing it, but I think that's exactly why it's such an iconic goal song. On top of that, they fade into "The Whip" by Locksley (a near perfect jock jam) to get the crowd fired right up.
3. Nashville Predators
This one has to be the coolest one on the list. The Predators went right to their Nashville country roots by using Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It", but instead of the line "don't know what it is bout that little gal's lovin'" they seamlessly integrate "don't know what it is bout the Predators scorin'". It's one of the most Nashville things you'll ever see.
To top it off, the song changes and Nashville flexes their muscles with their signature "YOU SUCK!" chant. Just hearing the crowd come down on you as a goaltender has to break your spirits a little bit. It's no wonder this team has been one of the best in the NHL for the last few years.
2. New York Rangers
Have you ever heard this song in the playoffs? Rangers fans are ruthless, screaming out their signature chant at the top of their lungs. The song creates one of the most thrilling atmospheres in the league and the whole experience is matched only by one other team...
1. Chicago Blackhawks
Like there was really any question about this one. "Chelsea Dagger" is an anthem among anthems, and when paired with the Blackhawks goal horn you get the greatest sound in the NHL.
Disagree with any of my picks? Let me know in the comment section below.