Hurricanes Beat Kraken 4-1 in Helsinki as Aho Scores Twice in His Native Finland

Sebastian Aho scored twice in his native Finland and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in the opening game of the NHL Global Series at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, according to Reuters and the NHL. Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist and Finnish defenseman Juuso Valimaki also scored for Carolina, which has won seven of its past eight games and improved to 15-3-2.

Two goals in 66 seconds

Ehlers gave Carolina a 1-0 lead with 8:16 left in the first period on a screened wrist shot from just inside the blue line. Seattle coach Lane Lambert challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld and the Kraken were penalized for delay of game for the failed challenge, Reuters reported.

Aho made it 2-0 on the ensuing power play with 7:10 remaining in the first period, tipping in a pass from Jackson Blake off the rush. The two goals came 66 seconds apart, and Carolina controlled the period from there.

Valimaki put Carolina up 3-0 at 9:34 of the second period. Logan Stankoven won a faceoff back to Valimaki above the right circle, and his screened wrist shot beat Philipp Grubauer over the left shoulder. Stankoven and defenseman K'Andre Miller each finished with two assists, and Brandon Bussi made 12 saves for Carolina.

Aho finishes it in the third

Aho scored his second goal of the night with 8:19 left in the third period, connecting on a one-time slap shot from the inside edge of the right circle off the rush. Frederick Gaudreau scored for Seattle on a shot from the slot with 6:45 remaining, ending Bussi's shutout bid. Grubauer stopped 26 shots for the Kraken, who were the designated home team, lost their second game in a row and fell to 9-7-1.

The night carried two milestones beyond the score. Carolina forward Taylor Hall played his 1,000th career game, and Reuters reported he is the first NHL player to reach that milestone outside North America. Before the game, former Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, a Finn recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff between Aho and Kaapo Kakko of the Kraken, Reuters reported. The NHL said the game was the league's 49th outside North America and its first in Helsinki since 2018.

The teams play again in Helsinki on Saturday, November 14, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, with Carolina as the designated home team for the second game of the series.