There are a lot of things that are great about EA Sport's NHL games, but one of the better elements that I find goes under the radar are the continually fantastic soundtracks. You don't realize how much you hear these songs until one comes on the radio and you inexplicably know all the words without a second thought. Fun fact, this list started out as a top 5 list before I started doing a bit of research and after a long nostalgia trip realized the honorable mentions list had 7 songs on it.
10. Red Flag - Billy Talent (NHL 06)
This song reminds me of learning the national anthem in french growing up. I had memorized the song but had no idea what I was saying, just making the right sounds. The difference being that I was enjoying myself when I heard this song.
9. Dropkick Murphys - The Boys are Back (NHL 14)
Could there be a bit of recency bias going on here? Maybe, but the fact that the first time I heard this song it found it's way onto my iPhone means that it deserves its spot on this list. The current edition of NHL has some good songs but I feel this one is the best.
8. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (NHL 05)
This edition of NHL probably got a bit more usage than some of the others because of the lockout and all that. As such the songs got more playtime and this one stands out to me as the best. When I stumble on my old Gamecube Markus Naslund copy of the game, this is the song that I remember.
7. Panic at the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon (NHL 09)
Another that song that sort of acts as a musical ambassador for an entire NHL game, Nine in the Afternoon was the song that I always hoped would be next while playing NHL 09. It isn't the usual punk rock kind of song that populate NHL game soundtracks and is definitely catchy. Also discovered while listening to it again that it is definitely about drugs, didn't catch that the first time.
6. Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness (NHL 03)
This song wins the award for the most nostalgia, all of the others on the list I remembered off the top of my head or recognized the tile while doing research. This one I had completely forgotten about until I heard it and the memories came flooding back of accidentally trading Daniel Alfredsson to the Capitals and trying to get him back.
5. Default - Deny (NHL 03)
The second song on the list to come out of the golden age for NHL music that was NHL 03 and 04. This song is a great combination of being catchy and inspirational for coming back from series deficits or trying to get a certain hockey card in the game.
4. The Black Keys - Howlin' For You (NHL 11)
Probably the funnest song from any NHL game, it makes you want to deke around an entire team and quickly shelf it when the goalie isn't looking, then glide to the bench like a cocky a-hole. Almost a shame Patrick Kane was on the cover the year before. Also I found out that the music video for this song is a weird movie trailer, so I included a different video.
3. Bowling for Soup - Punk Rock 101 (NHL 04)
The first (but not last) song from NHL 04. This is another song that I had forgotten about until I discovered it again recently. I amazed myself by remembering all the lyrics 10 years later, and if that doesn't deserve a spot in the top 3 then I don't know what does.
2. Gob - I Hear You Calling (NHL 02)
If I had to pick a song that represented the entire NHL video game series it would be this one. It could be that I've heard it in arenas for years after the game came out but so many people who follow hockey know and associate this song with NHL, so much that it almost got the top spot on my list. I also like the zombies in the music video.
1. Gob - Oh! Ellin (NHL 04)
I can't say that I've ever really gotten into Gob as a band but the 2 songs I do know of theirs are good enough that they earn the top 2 spots on this list. I enjoyed Oh Ellin so much in the day that I've always kept track of it and still listen to it on a daily basis, definitely in my opinion the best song to ever be in an NHL game.
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