Jets, Panthers savor opportunity to play in NHL Global Series

HELSINKI -- The 2018 NHL Global Series left a strong impression on the Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers.

Playing two games at Hartwall Arena, the Jets defeated the Panthers 4-2 on Thursday, and the Panthers rebounded with a 4-2 win Friday.
"I think overall, it's been an unreal trip," said Jets forward Patrik Laine, who is from Tampere, Finland. "I'm going to remember every second that we spent here for the rest of my life.
"Obviously, the atmosphere at the rink was unreal for both games. It was a pleasure to play in front of Finnish fans and friends and family. It was a nice trip."
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Laine scored four of Winnipeg's six goals, including a hat trick on Thursday, and said being home was a factor in ending his five-game point drought he had prior to the Global Series.
"It's the clean tap water," Laine said. "It's really good. It's really refreshing, and I think that was the key."
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who is also from Tampere, Finland, echoed his good friend Laine in Finnish, saying he will remember every moment of the Global Series "for the rest of my life."

Off the ice, the two Finland stars were remarkable hosts.
Each directed his teammates to all the best landmarks, including saunas, and recommended restaurants that featured native cuisine like elk, reindeer and salmon soup.
"[Barkov] did a great job … he took us out a couple nights early on when we got here," said Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, who made 32 saves in the win Friday. "This is my third time here, so I've been here before. I enjoy this city. It's a great town. I was looking forward to coming here when the schedule came out."
The unselfishness of Barkov and Laine was on full display throughout the week as they appeared at various promotional events around the city.
The highlight of those was a trip to the New Children's Hospital on Wednesday to meet the young patients, their parents and hospital staff. The players signed autographs, posed for pictures and brightened the day for many people.
"That's awesome for us, to at least be able to give them a little bit of happiness during these tough times," Laine said. "It's special to be here. Awesome."

The excellence Laine and Barkov displayed throughout the week was showcased on the ice as well.
"There's an uncoached brilliance in both their games," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "I can't tell you how [Laine] shoots the puck the way he shoots it. Barkov [is] just a brilliant two-way centerman, great hands but also his stick's in the right spot, physical in the D-zone, kind of came into the League and took a little bit of time and then looked like a pro that you're done coaching, right?
"There's four or five guys on my team I don't really coach them. They know what they're doing, they know the routes, they know the game. Say 'Hi' to them in the morning, 'How're you doing?' [Barkov] looked like he got to that point really quickly. That's hard to do."
Earlier in the week, Maurice said he felt strongly that the League had a "duty" to bring their game to European countries to share it with the fans and leagues that had provided the NHL with so many great players.
After the game Friday, Panthers coach Bob Boughner felt that was mission accomplished.
"That was a pretty special moment last night in the game with Barkov and Laine," Boughner said, adding that Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne dropping the ceremonial first puck on Thursday added to the drama. "Everywhere we went in town and at the hotels, it was a great experience for our team.
"On behalf of our team, I would like to thank the city of Helsinki and the Global Series and the NHL. It was put on in a first-class way and our guys really enjoyed it. It's not easy on these players. It's a big commitment to come all the way over here, but it was well executed on everybody's behalf and everybody's been great to us."
On top of the games, the sold-out crowd each night also showed their adoration for Selanne and former NHL defenseman Teppo Numminen, who dropped the ceremonial first puck on Friday.

Selanne said the Global Series was a boost for the city.
"It's a unique thing for Finnish people," he said. "Finns are like Canadians, they're hockey crazy. Every time when you get this kind of treat it's a big thing and people are excited. And, of course, when there are this time two of the biggest Finnish stars here, it benefits everybody.
"[Barkov and Laine] know that they have to do all these (appearances) and it's not easy. I did this in 2013 when the [Anaheim Ducks] came here. The rest of the team, they go to lunch and dinner and you have to do this, this and this. It's all fine. It's important for the game. It's not easy with the jet lag and everything, and in the middle of the season, it's hard for the guys, too.
"But for the fans and hockey in Finland, this means a lot."