Kraken regroup in Finland before Global Series vs. Hurricanes
· Yahoo Sports
The Seattle Kraken are back on the ice after falling short of a comeback Saturday against the New York Rangers. The Kraken fell to 9-6-1 after a 4-3 loss at Climate Pledge Arena. The team arrived in Finland Sunday ahead of the 2026 NHL Global Series vs. the 2026 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
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Before the puck drops for the first of two games on Thursday, the team will enjoy team bonding activities that include saunas, sautéed reindeer and salmon soup in the Land of a Thousand Lakes.
“Should be a good time with the guys,” defender Brandon Montour told reporters Monday in Helsinki. “I think (it’s) good for team bonding. I think, especially early in the season, I think we can use that,” he added.
This early season international trip is special for players, even season veterans like Kraken captain Jordan Eberle.
“This is my 17th year in (the NHL). I’ve never done anything like this,” Eberle said Monday. He competed in Finland at the 2012 IIHF World Championships with Team Canada.
“It’s a great experience for our group to get out here. And you know, it’s as much as this is about winning games and playing, it’s about bonding too,” the captain added.
Seattle Schedules Team Bonding
Nov 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton (27, middle) celebrates with right wing Kaapo Kakko (84) and defenseman Ville Ottavainen (46) after scoring a goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesThe Kraken have already been on an extended road trip this season, but traveling to five cities in nine days doesn’t lend itself to much time for team building.
“You go somewhere, you play a game, and you go to the next place. And now we have a chance to stay in one spot. You know, same hotels. You know, like you just staying in Helsinki for a week,” 2026 Olympic bronze medalist Kaapo Kakko said Monday.
Staying in place means more time together enjoying the finer things in Finland. Thankfully, the team has four Finnish players, including Kakko.
Kakko, Jani Nyman, Ville Ottavainen, and recently-recalled Coachella Valley Firebirds goalie Niklas “Nikke” Kokko all return to their native home. It’s a rare chance to play in front of their families. Montour mentioned in an interview with Kraken team reporter Piper Shaw that Kakko is expecting more than 30 friends and family to attend the two-game series against the Hurricanes.
This is especially meaningful since sadly, most of Kakko’s family was unable to travel to the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.
“My brother was here, he actually left right before this game,” he told me Feb. 21 at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan after capturing Olympic bronze. The Kraken forward scored the fifth goal for Finland in the 6-1 win over Slovakia.
Medaling in Milan was a huge boon for Finnish hockey. “It’s nice to bring something like that back home,” Kakko said in February. “It was a great experience overall, playing in the Olympics and even (winning) the bronze medal,” he added.
Nine months after reaching the Olympic podium, Finnish players in the NHL will give their coin try another chance to celebrate. The NHL Global Series returns to Finland for the third time since 2022.
Kakko & other Finns play host in Helsinki
Mar 14, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko (84) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn ImagesKakko and fellow countryman Nyman spoke to reporters in English and Finnish Monday. The Kraken forwards Kakko and Nyman, alongside Ville Ottavainen and Kokko, are playing the role of local experts for the rest of the team.
“What’s been really nice to see for me is how they’ve sort of brought the group together. (Kaapo’s) done some things and prepared some things for the guys and the entire team to experience while we’re here in Finland … he’s shown a great deal of leadership,” Seattle head coach Lane Lambert told reporters Monday morning.
“I’ve played the Finns a lot, and I know they’re passionate about their hockey. And obviously, to have a few guys from our team here, it’s always good for them to get home,” Eberle said.
The next opportunity for leadership will come Thursday in the first of two matchups against Carolina. Kakko commenced the near-comeback Saturday with a goal in the third period. Montour and Berkly Catton assisted on the first of three Kraken goals in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Catton’s Penalty Costs Kraken Comeback
Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton (27) warms up before the game against the New York Rangers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn ImagesThe Kraken outshot New York 14-1 in the final 20 minutes and got goals from Kakko, Jordan Eberle, and Vince Dunn to pull within one goal with less than five minutes left in the contest. Catton extended his point streak to eight games with assists on Kakko and Dunn goals.
Unfortunately, the 20-year-old center was called for interference with 2:34 left, leaving Seattle shorthanded as it chased the tying goal.
“We can’t put ourselves in that position to make the referee have to decide whether or not it’s a penalty,” Lambert told reporters postgame. “Another learning experience for a young player,” he added, referring to Catton.
“We had an uphill battle to climb going into the third. I liked the battle back, but at the end of the day, we don’t get any points out of this,” Eberle told reporters in the team locker room Saturday afternoon in Seattle.
The Kraken lacked consistency, and time, to complete the comeback. The Rangers held only an 11-10 shot advantage in the first period but established a 3-0 scoring lead.
“It’s frustrating. You know, you have to be able to start faster than that,” Eberle added.
The team will take the next couple of days in Helsinki to reset and reconnect as a team. However, the time in Finland won’t be all saunas and side quests. There remains work to be done.
Kraken vs. Hurricanes: Early Test
Nov 7, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) right wing Seth Jarvis (24) and left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrate their victory against the Chicago Blackhawks at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn ImagesThe Kraken will have had four days off by the time they hit the ice Thursday at 7 p.m. local time/9 a.m. PT. Seattle has had four days off once this season. The team bounced back from a 6-2 loss in Calgary to earn a 2-1 overtime win against the Flames at home.
The team is seeking a similar return to the win column against the Hurricanes. “I’m sure Wednesday comes, it’s all business. We’ll get back to full work,” Eberle said.
“Carolina for us, it’s an opportunity to take on the Stanley Cup champions, and it’ll be a great test for us,” he added.
The Hurricanes come into Thursday’s game 14-3-2 with 30 standings points and control of first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Kraken fell to fourth place in the Pacific Division after Saturday’s loss to New York. They have 19 standings points through 16 games played.
Kraken vs. Hurricanes: schedule and TV
- Hurricanes vs. Kraken – Thursday, Nov. 12 7 p.m. EET/12 p.m. ET – NHLN, SN+, TVAS, Prime Video, KONG, HHN
- Kraken vs. Hurricanes – Saturday, Nov. 14 8 p.m. EET/1 p.m. ET – NHLN, SN1, Prime Video, KING, KONG, HHN
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