The NHL regular season is, by its nature, a grueling 82-game marathon largely confined to the rinks and time zones of North America. But for the 15th time since the competition started the tradition, the show is taking to the road. This weekend, the focus of the hockey world shifts from Pittsburgh and Nashville to Stockholm, Sweden, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators prepare to battle for four crucial season points during the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden, presented by Fastenal.
These are not exhibitions at a neutral location. Both clubs sacrifice a home date for this two-match set, scheduled for Friday (November 14) and Sunday (November 16) at the newly renovated Avicii Arena. For the NHL, it is a strategic move to strengthen its bond with a passionate European fan base. Stockholm will in fact strengthen its status as the city most visited NHL city outside North Americaafter hosting 18 regular-season games after this weekend.
However, for the two teams involved, this journey represents completely different, but equally crucial issues.
A tale of two tires
The Penguins and Predators don’t just cross the Atlantic; they come from two completely different places in the standings.
Seventeen games into the season, the Penguins are doing what veteran-led Penguins teams do: winning. They land in Sweden with a record of 9-5-3 (21 points) and sit comfortably in third place in the Metropolitan Division. The old guard is still the vanguard. Evgeni Malkin, 39, plays like a man ten years younger and leads the team with 21 points (3 goals, 18 assists). Captain Sidney Crosby, meanwhile, continues to defy time and leads the charge with 11 goals. For Pittsburgh, this journey is about managing the journey, getting two more wins against a struggling opponent and maintaining their position in the playoffs.
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The Predators, on the other hand, are desperate.
Nashville arrives in Stockholm amid a brutal defeat, having won just one of their previous nine games. Their 5-9-4 record (14 points) puts them at the bottom of the Western Conference, where they are already eighth in the Wild Card race. This international trip is being framed internally as a much-needed “reset” – a chance to escape the pressures of the United States, bond as a group and find a spark 6,000 miles from home. The challenge is enormous. A long flight and a time change can just as easily exacerbate a team’s problems as it can solve them. These two games are not a novelty for Nashville; they are a potential turning point or an anchor.
The Swedish homecoming
While the team stories provide the competitive drama, the human interest story is all about the homecoming. Both squads are littered with Swedish talent, but two names in particular will catch the attention of local fans and media.
For the Penguins, it’s the return of Erik Karlsson. The 35-year-old three-time Norris Trophy winner is originally from nearby Landsbro and remains a legendary figure in his home country. While his offensive numbers aren’t what they were in his prime, his presence on the ice is a big draw.
For the Predators, the spotlight shines squarely on Filip Forsberg. The 31-year-old from Östervåla is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and, again, the team’s leader in both goals and points through 17 games. Forsberg will play in his home country as his team’s undisputed attacking engine, carrying the weight of a franchise that desperately needs his production.
The Swedish contingent also includes Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby, a Stockholm native who has reportedly served as the team’s official “tour guide.” Unfortunately, the Penguins’ other Swedish forwards, Rickard Rakell (injured reserve) and Filip Hallander (injured), will be spectators. Hallander remains in Pittsburgh after being diagnosed last week with a blood clot in his leg, which will sideline the 25-year-old for at least three months.
More than just two games
This weekend marks a full-scale NHL invasion, designed to engage the Swedish market well beyond the two-game set. The league introduces the NHL Global Fan Tour at the city’s famous Kungsträdgården Park: a free, three-day event with skills zones, player appearances and the obligatory photo-op with the Stanley Cup.
Fans can attend on Saturday a family-friendly open practice in Avicii Arenafollowed by a headline concert in neighboring Hovet by Swedish chart-toppers Bolaget. The demand was palpable; the initial allotment of tickets for the matches quickly sold out, prompting the league to release an additional batch.
This is all part of a larger long-term strategy for the NHL. This European impulse, which recently saw the opening of a new competition office in Zurich, Switzerlandis about business expansion and “deepening the connection,” as the competition puts it. It’s about making sure the next Forsberg, Karlsson or Nick Lidstrom is watching.
The view from the press box
This isn’t the first time these two franchises have needed their passports to play against each other. Longtime fans may remember starting the 2000-2001 season with a few games in Saitama, Japan. The stakes feel higher this time.
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The Predators are playing for their season. A sweep in Stockholm could be the catalyst they need to salvage their start. However, a few losses 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 have to avoid disappointment.
For North American fans, the broadcast schedule will be a test of dedication. Friday’s game will see puck drop at 1:00 PM CT (2:00 PM ET), but Sunday’s finale will be a special breakfast ball, airing at 8:00 AM CT (9:00 AM ET).
When the puck drops, the jet lag doesn’t matter. The novelty will be gone. It will be two NHL teams, on NHL ice (flown in from North America), battling for two points. For the Predators, it’s a lifeline. For the Penguins, it’s business as usual.
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