The Nashville Predators hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins’ in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday.
However, initial social media buzz was aimed not at the action on the ice — but at the national anthem performance preceding it.
You’d think that country singer and CMA Award winner Dierks Bentley would be welcomed in the country music capital, but that was far from the case, with NHL fans on Twitter throwing more punches than seen in any bloody hockey fight.
“Way more impressed with the jersey-wearing catfish than Dierks Bentley’s lackluster rendition of the anthem,” one user said, referring to the Predators fan who threw a dead catfish onto the ice in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ arena during Game 1.
“Who is Dierks Bentley and why does he suck at his alleged craft?” another asked.
“Dierks Bentley singing the Anthem sounded like the drunk guy at the bar trying to be in tune,” was one cutting insult. Ouch …
One user even turned it into a competition: “I think the Dierks Bentley critic with the most retweets should sing the Anthem at Game 5.” Now that’s something worth laying bets on.
The Penguins led the series 2-1 going into Monday’s game.
See the tweets below.
I think the Dierks Bentley critic with the most retweets should sing the Anthem at Game 5.
— OpposingLogic (@OpposingLogic) June 6, 2017
Dierks Bentley singing the Anthem sounded like the drunk guy at the bar trying to be in tune #PitvsNsh
— Miriam (@MiriamRuthie) June 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/patmuldowney/status/871885049905512449
Dierks Bentley singing National anthem. pic.twitter.com/6z9C2JncuQ
— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) June 6, 2017
Big Dierks Bentley guy but that was sung like a guy who can't sing.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 6, 2017
Here's to hoping the #Preds perform better than Dierks Bentley…. pic.twitter.com/F6Dye03ED1
— Kings Realm Podcast (@KingsRealmPod) June 6, 2017
Hearing Dierks Bentley butcher the National Anthem #NHLPLAYOFFS pic.twitter.com/Mi4gswQBo2
— Kailey Good Burt (@KaileyGood) June 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/rpm3232/status/871889596358983681
https://twitter.com/MelanieAmber23/status/871885983687593984
Dierks Bentley sounds like a dying catfish 😂😂 #StanleyCupFinal @EvgeniMaIkinEgo
— Kevin D. Breslin (@kevindbreslin) June 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/daniel_swope/status/871895277321539584