Lauri Markkanen skated on the ice before the NHL game.

Philadelphia

Utah Jazz NBA star Lauri Markkanen27, received the big honor at the opening game of the Utah Hockey Club, a new NHL club founded in Salt Lake City, between Tuesday and Wednesday night.

The Finnish star unexpectedly skated on the ice in the middle of the festivities before the match. Markkanen was dressed in a Utah Hockey Club jersey and received applause from the home crowd.

Markkanen carried the new NHL club’s first game puck in his hand, which he presented to the audience.

Markkanen went to greet the Utah players and then handed out the puck in the center circle Ryan Smith’s to the wife Ashley Smithille and stayed with the owner couple to watch the festivities.

After Ryan Smith’s speech, Ashley Smith dropped the first opening puck in Utah club history.

The NBA club Jazz shared pictures of Markkase on the ice on their X account.

“He’s from Finland, of course he can skate,” the account wrote.

Markkanen played hockey when he was young, but he thought there was too much equipment.

Markkanen moved to Utah a couple of years ago in a player trade and has performed excellently since then. The Finnish star won the award for the most developed player of the year 2022–2023. and he was also selected for the NBA All-Star Game.

In August, Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million contract extension with the Jazz.

Utah Hockey Club’s home arena is familiar to Markkanen, as the Jazz also play their home games there.

Utah The Hockey Club replaced the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL, whose players and management moved to the ranks of the Utah club.

Two Finns play in the team: Matias Maccelli and Juuso Välimäki.

Utah faced the Chicago Blackhawks in their opening game. Utah got off to a flying start in the match when Dylan Guenther scored the first goal in club history after less than five minutes.

In the first round Clayton Keller already took Utah to a two-goal lead, and Barrett Hayton added to the lead early in the third period.

Teuvo Teräväinen kicked off Chicago’s Kir by finishing off the NHL’s giant promise with a fine goal Connor Bedardin input.

However, Teräväinen’s goal was a thin consolation. Utah won the match 5–2. The home team Matias Maccelli and Juuso Välimäki were left without power points.

of Florida skipper Alexander Barkov carried the Stanley Cup onto the ice for the festivities the night before Wednesday when the Panthers opened their season at home against the Boston Bruins.

Florida won the match 6–4.

The reigning champion did not suffer from a championship hangover, even though the championship pennant was suspended before the match. Florida forged four goals already in the first period.

Barkov got an assist on last season’s goal terror Reinhart’s underpowered shot.

At the same time, the Finnish captain reached an amazing achievement. He has now recorded an assist no less than ten times in a row in his team’s first home game. Only legendary ones have been able to do the same Jaromir Jagr and Wayne Gretzky.

for Boston’s Finnish goalkeeper For Joonas Korpisalo the season opener was a nightmare.

Korpisalo got between the posts in the opening game of the season because Boston’s number one keeper Jeremy Swayman signed an extension contract with the club after a long struggle only on Sunday.

In the opening match, six pucks slipped behind Korpisalo’s back. Down 5-1, Florida fans started yelling that they wanted Swayman on the ice.

in Seattle Krakenin Eeli Tolvanen managed to score, but the St. Louis Blues took the points from Seattle with a score of 3–2.

Tolvanen directed skillfully Smokes Evansin shot into the net. The blues Kasperi Kapanen was left without power points.