Ranking NHL goal horns (21-11)

Goal horns are a staple of the hockey experience, something you can not miss. Having the blaring sound of a boat, truck, or train horn combined with the roar of a rowdy crowd can elevate any sport, especially ice hockey.

But how well do the NHL's goal horns perform? Each team in the National Hockey League has its own combination of horn, song, and other goal presentations that stand out, some better than others.

For this ranking, only the main song will be used, no player or specialty night goal songs are allowed. We will use a 30-point ranking, 10 points for the horn, 10 points for the song, and an additional 10 points for other goal presentations. All non-recorded horns will automatically get three points in the presentation category.

We’re at the middle eleven rankings and the quality starts to reflect that. A Lot closer race now as we head to the final ten!

21 - Montreal Canadiens, 21 Points (7-7-7)

Les Canadiens de Montréal adds another average horn into the mix, with many opinions split on whether it sounds good. I lean towards the good side, but the horn has been having pitch issues in the past year. Moving on from "Le But" by Loco Locass stung, but their new song "Go Habs Go" by Antoine Becks helps bump up their presentation.

20 - Los Angeles Kings, 21 Points (9-6-6)

A Nathan Airchime K3LA is no dinky airhorn. This bad boy has the honor of being the horn with the most volume in the NHL. The average presentation and underwhelming song "Power Ride" by Fred Coury hold this behemoth back from being higher, and it’s a shame.

19 - Boston Bruins, 22 Points (5-10-7)

A Toronto Maple Leafs fan's worst nightmare. Boston has probably the most well-known horn in the NHL, which is sad as it is only a recording. "Kernkraft 400" is one of, if not the best goal song in the NHL and it helps Boston make what should have been a subpar showing into a better-than-average combo.

18 - Washington Capitals, 22 Points (7-8-7)

This boat horn/rock song combination may seem generic at first, but "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue will always please, and the police sirens give the nation's capital the uniqueness it deserves. Add an eagle screech into the mix, and you might just see the Capitals reach the top 10.

17 - Calgary Flames, 22 Points (8-6-8)

Calgary has gotten things figured out, as their combo of a great-sounding Buell Lifeguard 4 Chime Horn Set and "TNT" by AC/DC is an earworm for any fan. Throw the flamethrowers on the jumbotron into the mix, and you got yourself one heck of a gameday experience. However, changing the goal song to "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragonforce might blow the rest of the league out of the water.

16 - Colorado Avalanche, 22 Points (8-7-7)

We are in the top half of the list, and the quality certainly starts increasing exponentially. Colorado mixed their traditional avalanche sirens with a powerful piston-type horn capable of shaking the foundation of Ball Arena. "Chase The Sun" by Planet Funk only stacks onto this great lineup.

15 - New York Islanders, 24 Points (8-7-9)

When the Islanders moved to the Barclay Center in 2015, the team tried out a new horn. It lasted only one preseason game before fans revolted. Seriously, look it up. The Honda next to the ice had a better horn. Anyways, the current horn moved to UBS Arena without incident, and the after-goal chants still entertain the crowds. "Crowd Chant" by Joe Satriani is a bit outdated though.

14 - Philadelphia Flyers, 24 Points (9-8-7)

Three words. Bring. Back. Doop. The Flyers have arguably the best horn in hockey, and fans want the return of the legendary song. In the meantime, "Ain't Talkin Bout' Love" by Van Halen works well, and the fire effects on the gigantic jumbotron are nice. Still, you have the loudest horn in the NHL, use it for more than three seconds.

13 - New Jersey Devils, 25 Points (8-8-9)

The Devils installed their horn rather recently in 2007. The horn is powerful and unique, giving it the edge over some fan favorites like the S203. "Howl" by Gaslight Anthem is perfect as a goal song, and the “You Suck” chants give New Jersey an impressive score.

12 - Minnesota Wild, 25 Points (9-7-9)

The Wild’s horn has a deep-seated growl to it, one that perfectly fits the theme of the team. "Shout" by Isley Brothers is just so Minnesota, and having the horn installed on top of a lighthouse adds another layer of detail at XCEL Energy Center.

11 - Chicago Blackhawks, 25 Points (9-10-6)

The OG. Blackhawks owner Bill Wurtz loved his yacht horn so much that he had it installed in the Madhouse on Madison in 1973, starting one of the greatest traditions in sports. "Chelsea Dagger" by The Fratellis is just the chef's kiss. The horn has been declining over the years, however, losing some of its volume. Hopefully, offseason maintenance will save this piece of history. The only thing holding Chicago back is a better presentation, other than that, amazing.

Check in next week for the top 10.

Zachary Braithwood is a first-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email ztb5138@psu.edu.