Laine’s hat trick lifts Jets over Panthers 4-2 in Helsinki
HELSINKI — Patrik Laine could hardly find a better place than home to show off his high-scoring instincts.
Laine, from Finland, had a hat trick as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Florida Panthers 4-2 in a regular-season game in the Finnish capital Thursday night.
Laine scored in the second period and twice in the third, including an empty-netter, in the opener of a back-to-back series between the teams in front of a roaring sellout crowd of 13,500 at Hartwall Arena.
“I don’t think you can imagine how good that feels,” Laine said. “It’s good to be home and score all those goals back here. It’s pretty awesome.”