STOCKHOLM (AP) — The NHL is heading back to Europe.
The Detroit Red Wings will open the 2009-10 regular season against the St. Louis Blues with a two-game series in Stockholm. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks will play two games against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki.
Organizers say the games are scheduled for October 2nd and 3rd.
The Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins opened this season with two games last October before sellout crowds at Ericsson Globe Arena, and the New York Rangers played two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague.
Three other NHL teams — the Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs — played international tournaments in the Globe between 2000 and '03.
The Red Wings' current roster includes seven Swedish players. St. Louis has one Swede, Patrik Berglund, a first-round draft pick in 2006.
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