The Dallas Stars on their way to Finland to play their two "Global Series" games this coming weekend against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The games will be played at Nokia Arena (AKA Tampere Deck Arena or, in Finnish, Tampereen Kannen areena), home of historic Liiga team Tappara Tampere and Ilves Tampere.
Naturally, much of the media focus this week will be on the Finnish players involved in the weekend set: Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Nikko Mikkola on the Panthers side vs. Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell on the Dallas side. The Stars' Finnish contingent is doubling as tour guides for their teammates during their visit.
I would have loved to cover that event for an outlet. I've never been to Finland. I covered the 2006-07 WJC in Sweden for NHL.com and was set to cover the WJC in the Czech Republic but, due to personal reasons, was unable to go. I ultimately passed the opportunity along to Frank Servalli. My only time in Czechia, actually, was during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. I bought a Sparta Prague Petr Nedved jersey and paid a visit to Jaromir Jagr's sports bar (since closed, but a cool experience with one of my favorite stories).
My two hockey-related trips to Europe are special memories. So I'm a bit envious of those who made the trip to Helsinki and Tampere. I've made friends from both cities via hockey and I'd have loved to catch up.
At any rate, I'm looking forward to the two-game class between the Stars and Panthers. It's a great test for Pete DeBoer's club. It will also be worth keeping an eye on both clubs when they return next week. Clubs that go to Europe often have a rough first week or so on the ice after their returns; and the Stars/Panthers trip isn't for regular season openers. Rather it's after the first month of regular season games have been played.
Fortunately, the Stars have built a little cushion for themselves with a 7-2-0 start through the first nine games of the season. The Panthers are 6-3-1 to date. For the Stars, a split in Finland and a home win vs. Chicago five nights after the latter game in Finland would be a good outcome.
Come Nov. 9, the Stars face an afternoon games in Winnipeg. The Jets (currently a perfect 8-0-0) may not maintain their unbeaten record quite that long, but are a very formidable opponent any way you slice it. Putting at least four more points in the bank before that game rolls around would be a good early season accomplishment.
Dallas Stars Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»