SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild will start the 2010-11 NHL season in Helsinki, Finland as part of the Compware NHL Premiere. The Wild will face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes for two regular season games at Hartwall Arena on October 7 and 8, 2010.
This is the fourth straight season the NHL will open with games in Europe. Last season the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, and Saint Louis Blues played games in Europe before the North American based games began. 
The Wild and Hurricanes will be joined in Europe by the San Jose Sharks playing the Columbus Blue Jackets at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on October 8 & 9, 2010. In the Czech Republic, The Phoenix Coyotes and Boston Bruins will play October 9 & 10 at 02 Arena in Prague.
The Wild and Hurricanes current rosters include six Finns: Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, and Niklas Backstrom for the Wild, and Tuomo Rutuu, Joni Pitkanen, and Jussi Jokinen.
The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com