List of international games played by NHL teams

1938 Detroit Red Wings–Montreal Canadiens European tour

In 1938, for the first time in NHL history two of the league's teams, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens, went on a tour of Europe with a nine-game series in England and France. The Canadiens won the series with a record of 5–3–1.

1959 Boston Bruins–New York Rangers European tour

In 1959, the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers (aided by Bobby Hull, Ed Litzenberger, Eric Nesterenko, and Pierre Pilote of the Chicago Black Hawks) went on a 23-game tour of Europe, visiting England, Switzerland, France, Belgium, West Germany, and Austria. The Rangers won the series with a record of 11–9–3.

1975–76 Super Series

In late 1975 and early 1976, two Soviet League teams from Moscow, USSR (CSKA, also known as "Red Army", and Krylya Sovetov, also known as "Soviet Wings") played an eight-game series against several NHL teams (the Chicago Black Hawks, the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins). The games took place in the USA and Canada. The Soviet teams won the series with a record of 5–2–1. Individually, CSKA had a record of 2–1–1 and Krylya Sovetov had a record of 3–1–0.

1976 Kansas City Scouts–Washington Capitals Japanese tour

In 1976, the Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals played a four-game series in Japan. The Capitals won the series with a 3–1–0 record.

1977–78 Czech NHL tour and Super Series

In late 1977 and early 1978, two Czechoslovakian teams (Poldi Kladno and Tesla Pardubice) along with one Soviet team (Spartak Moscow) went on a 13-game tour of the NHL, playing against several NHL teams (the Atlanta Flames, the Chicago Black Hawks, the Cleveland Barons, the Colorado Rockies, the Detroit Red Wings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers, the St. Louis Blues, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vancouver Canucks). Games took place in the USA and Canada. Both sides finished the series with 6–6–1 records. Individually, Kladno had a record of 2–1–1, Pardubice had a record of 1–3–0 (combined Czech record of 3–4–1), and Spartak had a record of 3–2–0.

1978–79 Super Series

In late 1978 and early 1979, Soviet Union's Krylya Sovetov from Moscow played a four-game series against NHL teams (the Boston Bruins, the Detroit Red Wings, the Minnesota North Stars, and the Philadelphia Flyers). Games took place in the United States. Krylya Sovetov won the series with a 2–1–1 record.

1979–80 Super Series

In late 1979 and early 1980, two Soviet teams from Moscow, CSKA and Dynamo, played a nine-game series against several NHL teams (the Buffalo Sabres, the Edmonton Oilers, the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, the Quebec Nordiques, the Vancouver Canucks, the Washington Capitals, and the original Winnipeg Jets). Games took place in the USA and Canada. The Moscow teams won the series with a record of 5–3–1. Individually, CSKA had a record of 3–2–0, and Dynamo had a record of 2–1–1.

1980 NHL–Sweden tournament

In 1980, the Minnesota North Stars and the Washington Capitals participated in a five-game tournament in Sweden with Swedish teams AIK Stockholm and Djurgarden Stockholm. The NHL teams won the tournament with a record of 5–1–0 (including the first NHL-only game; 4–0–0 against Swedish opponents). Minnesota had a record of 2–1–0 and Washington had a record of 3–0–0. Both Swedish teams had a record of 0–2–0.

1981 NHL–Europe tournament

In 1981, the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals participated in a nine-game tournament in Finland and Sweden with Finnish teams HIFK and Oulun Kärpät, and Swedish teams Frölunda, AIK, and Djurgarden. The NHL teams won the tournament with a 6–4–0 record (including the NHL-only game; 5–3–0 excluding it). New York had a record of 4–1–0 and Washington had a record of 2–3–0 (both including the NHL-only game). AIK had a record of 1–1–0, Djurgarden had a record of 0–2–0, Frölunda had a record of 1–1–0, HIFK had a record of 1–0–0, Kärpät had a record of 0–1–0 (for a combined European total of 3–5–0).

1982–83 Super Series

In late 1982 and early 1983, the USSR national team played a six-game series against several NHL teams (the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers, the Minnesota North Stars, the Montreal Canadiens, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Quebec Nordiques). Games took place in the USA and Canada. The USSR team won the series with a 4–2–0 record.

1985–86 Super Series

In late 1985 and early 1986, two Soviet teams from Moscow, CSKA and Dynamo, played a ten-game series against several NHL teams (the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Quebec Nordiques, and the St. Louis Blues). Games took place in the USA and Canada. The Moscow teams won the series with a record of 7–2–1. Individually, CSKA had a record of 5–1–0 and Dynamo had a record of 2–1–1.

1988–89 Super Series

In late 1988 and early 1989 two Soviet League teams, CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Riga, played a 14-games series against several NHL teams (the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, the Calgary Flames, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Edmonton Oilers, the Hartford Whalers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Quebec Nordiques, the St. Louis Blues, and the Vancouver Canucks). Games took place in the USA and Canada. Both sides finished with a record of 6–6–2. Individually, CSKA had a record of 4–2–1 and Dinamo had a record of 2–4–1.

1989 Calgary Flames–Washington Capitals European tour

In 1989, the Calgary Flames and the Washington Capitals went on a twelve-game European tour, playing against teams from Sweden (Färjestad BK and Brynäs IF) and the USSR (CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Dinamo Riga, Khimik Voskresensk, Krylya Sovetov Moscow, SKA Leningrad, Sokol Kiev, and Spartak Moscow). The Flames preceded these games with a two-game series in Czechoslovakia against the Czechoslovakia national team, losing both. The NHL teams won the series with a record of 7–5–0 (0–2–0 against Czechoslovakia, 1–1–0 against the Swedish teams, and 6–2–0 against Soviet teams). Individually, Calgary had a record of 3–3–0 and Washington had a record of 4–2–0.

1989–90 Super Series

In late 1989 and early 1990 a record four Soviet teams (CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Khimik Voskresensk, and Krylya Sovetov Moscow went on a 21-game tour of North America, playing against every NHL team (the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, the Calgary Flames, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, the Edmonton Oilers, the Hartford Whalers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Montreal Canadiens, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Quebec Nordiques, the St. Louis Blues, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vancouver Canucks, the Washington Capitals, and the original Winnipeg Jets). Games took place in the USA and Canada. The Soviet teams won the series with a record of 11–9–1. Individually, CSKA has a record of 4–1–0, Dynamo had a record of 3–2–0, Khimik had a record of 3–3–0, and Krylya Sovetov had a record of 1–3–1.

1990 Edmonton Oilers–St. Louis Blues European tournament

In 1990, the Edmonton Oilers and the St. Louis Blues participated in a four-game tournament in Europe, taking place in Austria and West Germany, playing against the Austrian team Graz EC and the German team Düsseldorf EG. The NHL teams won the tournament with a record of 3–0–0, excluding the NHL-only game.

1990 Minnesota North Stars–Montreal Canadiens European tour

In 1990, the Minnesota North Stars and the Montreal Canadiens went on a nine-game tour of Europe, with a game in Sweden against AIK, and the rest in the USSR against CSKA Moscow, Dinamo Riga, Dynamo Moscow, Khimik Voskresensk, Krylya Sovetov Moscow, a SKA Leningrad/Torpedo Yaroslavl joint squad, Sokol Kiev, and Spartak Moscow. The European teams won the series with a record of 5–4–0. Individually, the Canadiens had a record of 3–2–0 and the North Stars had a record of 1–3–0.

1990–91 Super Series

In late 1990 and early 1991 three Soviet teams (CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Khimik Voskresensk) went on a 21-game tour of North America, playing against every NHL team (the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, the Calgary Flames, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, the Edmonton Oilers, the Hartford Whalers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Montreal Canadiens, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Quebec Nordiques, the St. Louis Blues, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vancouver Canucks, the Washington Capitals, and the original Winnipeg Jets). Games took place in the USA and Canada. The Soviet teams won the series with a record of 12–6–3. Individually, CSKA had a record of 6–1–0, Dynamo had a record of 3–2–2, and Khimik had a record of 3–3–1.

1992 Chicago Blackhawks–Montreal Canadiens English games

In 1992, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens played a two-game series in England. Each team won one game.

1993 New York Rangers–Toronto Maple Leafs English games

In 1993, the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs played a two-game series in England. The Rangers won both games.

1994 NHL International Challenge in Finland, with the Winnipeg Jets

In 1994, the original Winnipeg Jets played in a four-team compressed tournament with HIFK Helsinki, Helsinki Jokerit, and Tappara Tampere in Finland. The Jets won their first game against Tappara, and then HIFK in the final. The tournament had been set up for a final game between Teemu Selänne's old team (Jokerit) and current team (the Jets).

1997 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim–Vancouver Canucks Japanese games

In 1997, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Vancouver Canucks played a two-game series in Japan to open the 1997-98 regular season. This marked the first time that games played by NHL teams outside of North America counted in the league standings. Each team won one game.

1998 Buffalo Sabres–Tampa Bay Lightning Austrian tournament

In 1998, the Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning played in a three-game tournament in Austria against the Austrian teams KAC Klagenfurt and VEU Feldkirch. The NHL teams won the tournament with a record of 2–0–0, excluding the NHL-only game.

1998 Calgary Flames–San Jose Sharks Japanese games

In 1998, the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks played a two-game series in Japan. The teams tied one game, and the Flames won the other. These games counted in the regular-season standings.

2000 NHL Challenge

In 2000, the Vancouver Canucks played a two-game series in Sweden against the Swedish teams Djurgarden Stockholm and MoDo Ornskoldsvik. The Canucks won both games.

2000 Nashville Predators–Pittsburgh Penguins Japanese games

In 2000, the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins played a two-game series in Japan. Each team won one game. As with the previous season-opening series in Japan in 1997 and 1998, these games counted in the regular-season standings.

2001 NHL Challenge

In 2001, the Colorado Avalanche played a single game in Sweden against the Swedish team Brynas Gavle. The Avalanche won. Two more games were scheduled (against Djurgarden and Jokerit), but the tour was cut short due to the September 11 attacks.

2003 NHL Challenge

In 2003, the Toronto Maple Leafs played a three-game series in Finland and Sweden against the Finnish team Jokerit Helsinki and the Swedish teams Djurgarden Stockholm and Farjestad Karlstad. The Maple Leafs won all games.

2006 Florida Panthers–New York Rangers Puerto Rican game

In 2006, as part of the pre-season for the 2006–07 NHL season, the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers played an exhibition game in Puerto Rico. The Rangers won the game.

2007 NHL Premiere

In 2007, the NHL opened its regular season in Europe for the first time. The Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings played a two-game series in England. Each team won one game. Prior to this, the Kings played a two-game series in Austria against the Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg and the Swedish team Farjestad Karlstad, winning both.

2008 NHL Premiere

In 2008, four teams from the NHL (the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Tampa Bay Lightning) opened their regular seasons in Europe. The Rangers and the Lightning played a two-game series in the Czech Republic, with the Rangers winning both games. The Senators and the Penguins played a two-game series in Sweden, with each team winning one game. Prior to this, the Rangers played in the inaugural Victoria Cup against Metallurg Magnitogorsk from Russia. All four teams also played against various European teams (Eisbären Berlin from Germany, SC Bern from Switzerland, Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia, Jokerit Helsinki from Finland, and Frölunda Gothenburg from Sweden). The NHL teams won all games.

2009 NHL Premiere

In 2009, once more four teams from the NHL (the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, the Florida Panthers, and the St. Louis Blues) opened their regular seasons in Europe. The Blackhawks and the Panthers played a two-game series in Finland, with each team winning once. The Red Wings and the Blues played a two-game series in Sweden, with the Blues winning both games. Prior to this, the Blackhawks played in the second annual Victoria Cup against ZSC Lions from Switzerland. All four teams also played against various European teams (Jokerit Helsinki and Tappara Tampere from Finland, HC Davos from Switzerland, and Färjestad BK and Linköpings HC from Sweden). The NHL teams had a record of 4–2–0 against the European teams.

2010 NHL Premiere

In 2010, a record six NHL teams (the Boston Bruins, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Minnesota Wild, the Phoenix Coyotes, and the San Jose Sharks) opened their regular seasons in Europe. The Hurricanes and the Wild played a two-game series in Finland, with the Hurricanes winning both games. The Blue Jackets and the Sharks played a two-game series in Sweden, with each team winning one game. The Bruins and the Coyotes played a two-game series in the Czech Republic, with each team winning one game. Prior to this, all six teams also played against various European teams (Adler Mannheim from Germany, Belfast Giants Selects from Northern Ireland (an all-star team of the EIHL), SKA Saint Petersburg from Russia, Ilves Tampere from Finland, HC Bílí Tygři Liberec from the Czech Republic, Malmö Redhawks from Sweden, and Dinamo Riga from Latvia). The NHL teams had a record of 6–1–0 against the European teams.

2011 NHL Premiere

In 2011, four teams from the NHL (the Anaheim Ducks, the Buffalo Sabres, the Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Rangers) opened their regular seasons in Europe, marking the fifth straight season of the NHL Premiere games. On October 7, the Ducks and the Sabres played a game in Finland, while the Kings and the Rangers played a game in Sweden. The next day, the Ducks and the Rangers played a game in Sweden, while the Sabres and the Kings played a game in Germany. These teams also played exhibition games against HC Sparta Prague from the Czech Republic, Frölunda HC from Sweden, Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia, EV Zug from Switzerland, Jokerit Helsinki from Finland and Adler Mannheim and Hamburg Freezers from Germany as part of their pre-season schedule. The New York Rangers, playing four games in five days in four countries, had a record of 3–1–0 against the European teams. The NHL teams had an overall record of 6–1–0 against the European teams.

In March 2012, the NHL announced that it would not schedule an NHL Premiere event for 2012. The series is presently on hiatus.