It's a nice and balmy day outside, at least for November. But that doesn't mean that snow's not right around the corner - and with snow comes traditional Finnish blues. Rock out, Chicago! more ›

While we here at Chicagoist are planted squarely in the middle of the United States, let's just say that sometimes we come to the office and feel like we're in Finland. more ›

Oh, hey, the Blackhawks started their season today! That's right, lost amongst the Chicago 2016 hoopla and fall-out, the Chicago Blackhawks opened their 2009-2010 season in Finland today against the Florida Panthers but wound up on the wrong end of a 4-3 shootout. The Blackhawks got on the board for the season first in the second period courtesy of a Patrick Kane goal early in the second period. That began a see-saw battle of the teams exchanging goals. Florida answered to tie the game 1-1 by the end of the second period. In the third, Dustin Byfuglien got a goal early, less than four minutes into the period. Florida bounced back with a goal of their own a few moments later. Once more, the Blackhawks went ahead thanks to Patrick Sharp's first goal of the season but, once more, the Panthers battled back and with a little over two minutes left in the game. After a scoreless overtime, the Panthers took the victory with a two goals to one shootout. Cristobal Huet stopped 21 of 24 shots but the Blackhawks managed a mind-boggling 55 shots on goal - 24 in the third period - but only came away with the three goals and a loss. The teams tangle in Finland again tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Chicago time (CSN). more ›

The NHL announced today that the Chicago Blackhawks would be one of four teams opening the 2009-2010 season in Europe as part of a special series. The 'Hawks will head to Helsinki, Finland to take on the Florida Panthers in a two-game "home and home" series while the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues will tangle in a pair of games in Stockholm, Sweden. Not so coincidentally: Finland and Sweden are the top two countries in terms of non-North American visitors to the NHL's website. While the Panthers have never played a game outside of North America in their existence, the 'Hawks have skated on the other side of the pond before. In September 1992, the Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens faced off in a pair of exhibition games at London's Wembley Arena. It will be the third straight year the NHL has opened a season overseas. more ›