Hurricanes Head to Helsinki for Global Series
Carolina travels to Finland to face the Seattle Kraken in two games at Veikkaus Arena, with several Finnish players set to play before family and friends.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes will play two NHL Global Series games against the Seattle Kraken at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday and Saturday. The trip follows a 9-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Lenovo Center on Saturday, which left Carolina at 14-3-2.
Why it matters
The Global Series gives Finnish players a chance to perform in front of family and friends in their home country. Jordan Staal, who was injured during warmups on Oct. 11, could play in one of the games.
Sebastian Aho leads all NHL players from Finland with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 19 games this season. Jordan Staal's availability for the Helsinki games remains unconfirmed following his Oct. 11 injury.
The players
Carolina Hurricanes
The NHL franchise based in Raleigh, North Carolina, which plays its home games at Lenovo Center.
Seattle Kraken
The NHL expansion franchise based in Seattle that joined the league in 2021 and is the Hurricanes' opponent in both Helsinki games.
Sebastian Aho
A Finnish forward from Rauma who leads NHL players from Finland in scoring this season.
Jordan Staal
A veteran Hurricanes center who was injured during warmups on Oct. 11 and may return for the Global Series.
The details
The Hurricanes arrive in Helsinki Monday and face the Kraken at Veikkaus Arena Thursday at 12 p.m. ET and again Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. Jesperi Kotkaniemi expects 20-30 family members and friends to attend, and Rosa Aho is organizing tickets for relatives of Sebastian Aho.
Timeline
Oct. 11, 2026: Jordan Staal injured during warmups.
November 7, 2026: Hurricanes defeat Chicago Blackhawks 9-2 at Lenovo Center.
Monday: Hurricanes arrive in Helsinki.
Thursday: First Global Series game against Seattle Kraken at Veikkaus Arena, 12 p.m. ET.
Saturday: Second Global Series game against Seattle Kraken at Veikkaus Arena, 1 p.m. ET.
Roadmap
The Global Series has taken NHL games to international markets, and this trip extends that model to Finland, where several Hurricanes players have roots. The matchup gives the league a chance to showcase its growing European fan base in a home-country setting for Finnish players.
Fantasy managers with Sebastian Aho or Jordan Staal should monitor lineup news before the Thursday and Saturday games. Staal's status for the Helsinki games will determine whether Carolina's depth chart shifts for the Kraken matchups.
The takeaway
Global Series trips like this one give fans in host countries a rare chance to see NHL players up close, and the Hurricanes' Finnish contingent makes the Helsinki games especially meaningful for those with roots there.
What happens next
The Hurricanes play the Seattle Kraken at Veikkaus Arena on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET and Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Further reading
Explore more in Hockey coverage for context on the league's international schedule.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NHL.
