On The Road: 3 toughest buildings to play in

Home-ice advantage doesn't always make the difference in hockey, but a truly intimidating atmosphere can have a major impact, especially come playoff time.

Here are the three most difficult arenas to play in around the NHL:

Bridgestone Arena

The Nashville Predators' home rink is without a doubt the toughest barn in the league for opposing clubs to visit.

A raucous, fun-loving crowd fills the building for every home game, and whether they're chanting "it's all your fault" at visiting goaltenders at a deafening volume or throwing catfish on the ice, the Music City faithful do everything they can to make it an unpleasant experience for the other team.

If there was any doubt about Bridgestone Arena's status, it was named the toughest building to play in by 61 of the NHL's best players in a recent poll.

Bell MTS Place

Anyone who watched the Winnipeg Jets' postseason run last spring will agree that their home facility belongs on this list.

The scene at Bell MTS Place during the Jets' drive to the Western Conference Final was consistently a sight to behold, with the "White Out" painting the capacity crowd in Winnipeg's colors and the decibel level cranked up to extreme proportions.

Jets fans are among the most passionate in the NHL. The fact that Winnipeg is now also among the league's most competitive clubs gives its fans even more incentive to create an intimidating setting, even during the regular season.

Amalie Arena

Much like the other two rinks listed here, the Tampa Bay Lightning's abode is energized by a perennially successful team, and that's helped make it one of the toughest destinations in the league.

These days, it's rare to watch a game at Amalie Arena and not witness an electric atmosphere, both literally and figuratively. After all, the building uses actual Tesla coils to fire up the fans, and to say it works would be an understatement.

Given the talent it boasts on the ice, it's no surprise Tampa Bay has one of the best home records in the NHL, nor is it a shock the Lightning are among the leaders in home attendance. That boisterous crowd and some dynamic in-game effects make the building one of the league's most imposing.