For the two teams involved, however, this trip represents starkly different, yet equally critical, business.<\/p>\n
A Tale of Two Tapes<\/p>\n
The Penguins and Predators aren\u2019t just crossing the Atlantic; they\u2019re arriving from two completely different places in the league standings.<\/p>\n
![\"Erik](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Erik-Karlsson-Penguins-1200x897.jpg\")
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Jeanine Leech\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Penguins, 17 games into the season, are doing what veteran-led Penguins teams do: winning. They land in Sweden holding a 9-5-3 record (21 points), sitting comfortably in third place in the Metropolitan Division. The old guard is still the vanguard. Evgeni Malkin<\/a>, at 39, is playing like a man a decade younger, leading the team with 21 points (3 goals, 18 assists). Captain Sidney Crosby, meanwhile, continues to defy time, leading the charge with 11 goals. For Pittsburgh, this trip is about managing the travel, banking two more wins against a struggling opponent, and maintaining their playoff footing.<\/p>\n Related \u2013 Should the Penguins Be Buyers or Sellers at the Deadline?<\/a><\/p>\n The Predators, on the other hand, are desperate.<\/p>\n Nashville arrives in Stockholm in the midst of a brutal slide, having won just one of their previous nine contests. Their 5-9-4 record (14 points) has them buried near the bottom of the Western Conference, already eighth in the Wild Card race. This international trip is being internally framed as a much-needed \u201creset\u201d\u2014a chance to get away from the stateside pressure, bond as a group, and find a spark 4,000 miles from home. The challenge is immense. A long flight and a time change can just as easily compound a team\u2019s problems as solve them. For Nashville, these two games aren\u2019t a novelty; they\u2019re a potential turning point, or an anchor.<\/p>\n The Swedish Homecoming<\/p>\n While the team narratives provide the competitive drama, the human-interest story is all about the homecoming. Both rosters are dotted with Swedish talent, but two names, in particular, will be the focus of the local fans and media.<\/p>\n For the Penguins, it\u2019s the return of Erik Karlsson. The 35-year-old, three-time Norris Trophy winner is a native of nearby Landsbro and remains a legendary figure in his home country. While his offensive numbers aren\u2019t what they were in his prime, his presence on the ice is a significant draw.<\/p>\n For the Predators, the spotlight shines squarely on Filip Forsberg<\/a>. The 31-year-old from \u00d6sterv\u00e5la is the franchise\u2019s all-time leading goal scorer and, once again, the team\u2019s leader in both goals and points through 17 games. Forsberg will be playing in his home country as the undisputed offensive engine of his team, carrying the weight of a franchise desperately needing his production.<\/p>\n The Swedish contingent also includes Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby, a Stockholm native who has reportedly been serving as the team\u2019s official \u201ctour guide.\u201d Unfortunately, the Penguins\u2019 other Swedish forwards, Rickard Rakell (injured reserve) and Filip Hallander (injured), will be spectators. Hallander will remain in Pittsburgh<\/a> after being diagnosed last week with a blood clot in his leg that will sideline the 25-year-old for at least three months.<\/p>\n More Than Just Two Games<\/p>\n This weekend is a full-scale NHL invasion, designed to engage the Swedish market far beyond the two-game set. The league is rolling out the NHL Global Fan Tour in the city\u2019s famous Kungstr\u00e4dg\u00e5rden park\u2014a free, three-day event with skill zones, player appearances, and the obligatory photo-op with the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n On Saturday, fans can attend a family-friendly open practice at Avicii Arena<\/a>, followed by a headline concert at the adjacent Hovet by Swedish chart-toppers Bolaget. The demand has been palpable; the initial ticket allotment for the games sold out quickly, prompting the league to release an extra batch.<\/p>\n This is all part of a larger, long-term strategy for the NHL. This European push, which recently included the opening of a new league office in Zurich, Switzerland<\/a>, is about business expansion and \u201cdeepening the connection,\u201d as the league puts it. It\u2019s about ensuring the next Forsberg, Karlsson, or Nick Lidstrom is watching.<\/p>\n The View from the Press Box<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time these two franchises have needed their passports to play each other. Long-time fans may recall they kicked off the 2000-01 season with a pair of games in Saitama, Japan<\/a>. The stakes feel higher this time.<\/p>\n Related \u2013 Stamkos\u2019 Muted Performance Presents Predators with Mounting Questions<\/a><\/p>\n The Predators are playing for their season. A sweep in Stockholm could be the catalyst they need to salvage their start. A pair of losses, however, will make for a very long flight home and an even deeper hole to climb out of. The Penguins, who last played in Stockholm in 2008, simply need to avoid a letdown.<\/p>\n For North American fans, the broadcast schedule will be a test of dedication. Friday\u2019s game drops the puck at 1 pm CT (2 pm ET), but Sunday\u2019s finale is a breakfast-ball special, airing at 8 am CT (9 am ET).<\/p>\n When the puck drops, the jet lag won\u2019t matter. The novelty will be gone. It will be two NHL teams, on NHL ice (flown in from North America), fighting for two points. For the Predators, it\u2019s a lifeline. For the Penguins, it\u2019s business as usual.<\/p>\n AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards<\/a> page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Filip](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Filip-Forsberg-Predators-6-1200x800.jpg\")
Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators celebrates after scoring during the 2nd period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Photo by Derek Cain\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Adam](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Adam-Wilsby-Predators-1200x800.jpg\")
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Penguins_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n