NHL to play exhibition games in Russia

The NHL will send two teams to Russia in the fall to take part in exhibition games against squads from the Kontinental Hockey League, a source confirmed with thestar.com.

The two will be from among the six going to Europe to open the 2010-11 season – the Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks.

It will be the first NHL hockey in Russia in 19 years.

“It will be good,” said Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, a Russian, when told of the development. “Maybe we’ll be able to see how far Russian hockey has come compared to the NHL.

The teams will likely play in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Coyotes are not likely to be one of the teams, said president Doug Moss.

The Raleigh News and Observer says the Hurricanes are interested in playing an exhibition game in St. Petersburg before they open the season in Helsinki.

News source: thestar.com