It's Official: Florida Panthers on a European Vacation ... Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers ... Today in Sunrise, Next Season in Helsinki ... Standings, Scoreboard Watch

The Panthers are officially going to Europe, the NHL announcing the pairings of next season's openers on Thursday.

As you may have read somewhere before, the Panthers will be playing the Chicago Blackhawks in Helsinki, Finland. Also, the Red Wings and Blues will play in Stockholm.

This is the third straight season the NHL will open in Europe, starting when the Ducks and Kings moved their freeway series across the pond and kicked off the 2006-07 season in London.

In a strange twist, the Blackhawks are in town tonight. First time since Dec. 3, 2005. They won't be back next year either as the two games in Europe will satisfy the season series. That also takes away a Chicago trip. Great.

-- Tonight's games (and the teams Florida is rooting for)

Canes @ Isles, 7: Carolina is hurting these days, but so are Isles. Florida would like a NY win, but probably won't get it.

Sabres @ Flyers, 7: Philly is up in fourth, Sabres are tied with Panthers. Go with Flyboys here. In regulation.

Canadiens @ Penguins, 7: Have a feeling the Pens are going to make a run here. Don't know why. Still, today, Panthers need a Habs loss.

Jackets @ Leafs, 7:30:  No great shakes and won't have anything to do with the east race.

Vancouver @ Sens, 7:30: Ottawa is still way back in the race. Too little, too late.

Devils @ Lightning, 7:30: Doesn't really affect the Panthers in any way.

Blackhawks @ Panthers, 7:30: Panthers are rooting for Chicago here.

Blues @ Preds, 8: No bearing on the east although it will be interesting to see if Preds bounce back from that beatdown in Motown.

Flames @ Wild, 8: Watch if you want...

Oil @ Stars, 8:30: Both teams jockeying for position in west. Should be a good one.

Thrash @ Coyotes, 9: ATL is having quite the trip west after sweeping the Freeway Series with wins in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Coyotes are hurting. Hurting. If PHX loses this one, the fire sale may just be on.

Kings @ Sharks, 10:30: Big win for the Kings last night. Sharks are struggling a bit right now, but win on Tuesday might have righted that teal-and-black ship.

-- The Standings (brought to you by The Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago)

1	Boston Bruins	NE	58	40	10	8	88	197	131	19-4-4	21-6-4	5-2-3	Won 1
2	Washington Capitals	SE	58	37	16	5	79	195	166	23-4-1	14-12-4	7-1-2	Won 3
3	New Jersey Devils	ATL	58	37	18	3	77	179	145	19-10-1	18-8-2	7-3-0	Lost 1
4	Philadelphia Flyers	ATL	55	30	16	9	69	179	161	16-7-3	14-9-6	6-4-0	Won 2
5	New York Rangers	ATL	59	31	22	6	68	147	163	18-9-3	13-13-3	2-6-2	Won 1
6	Montréal Canadiens	NE	58	30	21	7	67	175	176	17-6-4	13-15-3	3-6-1	Lost 2
7	Florida Panthers	SE	57	29	20	8	66	164	155	16-7-5	13-13-3	7-3-0	Won 1
8	Buffalo Sabres	NE	58	30	22	6	66	172	160	16-11-2	14-11-4	5-4-1	Won 1
9	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	58	28	25	5	61	147	171	14-13-1	14-12-4	5-5-0	Lost 1
10	Pittsburgh Penguins	ATL	58	27	25	6	60	173	178	15-12-2	12-13-4	4-4-2	Lost 2
11	Ottawa Senators	NE	56	22	25	9	53	139	158	12-9-5	10-16-4	5-3-2	Lost 1
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	57	21	26	10	52	172	210	10-11-6	11-15-4	4-4-2	Lost 1
13	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	57	19	27	11	49	145	181	10-12-7	9-15-4	3-6-1	Lost 2
14	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	58	21	32	5	47	172	204	9-17-2	12-15-3	4-6-0	Won 2
15	New York Islanders	ATL	57	17	34	6	40	138	192	11-12-4	6-22-2	4-5-1	Lost 1

LEGEND ›

		DIV	GP	W	L	OT	Pts	GF	GA	Home	Away	L10	Streak
1	San Jose Sharks	PAC	55	38	8	9	85	192	137	24-2-3	14-6-6	4-2-4	Won 1
2	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	58	38	12	8	84	221	170	21-4-3	17-8-5	7-2-1	Won 1
3	Calgary Flames	NW	57	33	18	6	72	181	169	20-7-4	13-11-2	4-4-2	Lost 1
4	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	55	32	15	8	72	186	140	15-4-5	17-11-3	7-3-0	Won 2
5	Vancouver Canucks	NW	57	28	21	8	64	173	166	14-11-4	14-10-4	6-2-2	Won 2
6	Columbus Blue Jackets	CEN	58	29	23	6	64	159	161	19-9-2	10-14-4	6-3-1	Won 1
7	Dallas Stars	PAC	56	28	21	7	63	169	174	16-7-4	12-14-3	7-3-0	Won 1
8	Edmonton Oilers	NW	57	29	24	4	62	161	175	13-11-3	16-13-1	5-4-1	Lost 1
9	Anaheim Ducks	PAC	59	28	26	5	61	166	170	15-13-3	13-13-2	5-5-0	Lost 2
10	Minnesota Wild	NW	55	28	24	3	59	142	129	17-11-3	11-13-0	5-5-0	Lost 2
11	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	56	25	22	9	59	150	160	13-12-8	12-10-1	6-2-2	Won 1
12	Nashville Predators	CEN	58	27	28	3	57	140	166	16-11-1	11-17-2	6-4-0	Lost 2
13	St Louis Blues	CEN	57	24	26	7	55	163	176	15-11-4	9-15-3	5-2-3	Lost 1
14	Colorado Avalanche	NW	58	27	30	1	55	159	180	17-14-0	10-16-1	4-6-0	Won 2
15	Phoenix Coyotes	PAC	58	25	28	5	55	146	178	16-12-2	9-16-3	1-9-0	Lost 3

Comments

[jh]

Actually, im rooting for canadains, as i really think pitt will be back, 25 games a long way to go.

[Karl]

I thought the race in the east was tight... but 5 points separate 5th from 11th???? Yikes.

[peteftlaud]

HUH???
Why would we root for the Chi-boys?

Typo?

[jh]

hes kidding...hes very tongue and cheek, and actually funny!

[EJ]

This tight playoff race is stressing me out! I need a vacation to Helsinki, Finland!

GR- may my wife and I travel with you next October and the Herald pay for our plane tix?

[Category5cane]

Aslong as we dont finnish 7th we should be good.Im very scared to play the Caps in the 1st round.I actually think they will be the Eastern Conference rep for The Cup

[Glenn]

i am rooting for the Canadians because i am Canadian.