Isolated in a small, dark studio about two hours north of Helsinki, Antti Makinen prepared to call last Friday's Game 7 between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.
Makinen is the voice of the NHL in Finland, where he broadcasts games solo and remotely, off a 25-inch TV. Game 7 was a 4 p.m. ET start -- an early start for Makinen, too. "It started in Finland at 11 p.m. local time, not too bad," said the broadcaster, who often calls Jokerit KHL games live, takes a nap, then calls NHL games at 2 a.