Dallas Stars play Florida Panthers in Finland

• They play the Florida Panthers at 1pm Friday and again at 11am Saturday. 

Why it matters: Stars stars Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell are Finnish and helped plan the team's excursions.

• About 5% of current NHL players are from Finland, a country of about 5.5 million people, per the AP. Finnish fans got to watch hockey practice this week at Nokia Arena.

The intrigue: Bragging rights are at stake for both sides. Panthers general manager Bill Zito once lived and played hockey in Finland. The captain and three other players are Finnish.

• "For these guys to come home and play an NHL game, you'll have to ask them, but I think it's beyond special," Zito told NHL.com.

Threat level: The Stars face the reigning Stanley Cup champions. The Panthers are currently 7-3-1. 

• The Stars are also hot this season, with a 7-2 record. 

State of play: The Stars went to a traditional Finnish sauna, and a few jumped into the Baltic Sea. And they tasted traditional cuisine, including reindeer. 

• Forward Matt Duchene said he hoped he didn't eat Rudolph, and Tyler Seguin said he was scared at first but it tasted "pretty good." 

• Hintz told NHL.com it's a "special moment to come here to our home country and show the boys how we do it here." 

What they're saying: Hintz and mascot Victor E. Green visited patients at a children's hospital Tuesday.

• "To be able to be here and talk to them and hang out is pretty special. I like that stuff and want to do it," Hintz told NHL.com. "I think it is a big part of what we do. It's pretty special to go there and help them have a little bit of fun."

How to watch: The games will play on NHLN, Victory+ and Scripps Sports.