Eric Staal was not at practice today at the RecZone, but Canes coach Paul Maurice did not sound worried about the team captain.
Staal left in the third period of the Canes' 4-3 win Tuesday over the Ottawa Senators and did not return. Maurice said today Staal has a lower-body injury but is expected to play Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"There were good signs today when he came in," Maurice said. "We'll keep him off the ice today and tomorrow, and we expect him to be fully ready to go."
Staal left the game with the Canes leading 4-2. Maurice said he wanted to return, but Maurice did not want to take a chance on it.
"We have to be able to win a game and close the deal out without putting him at risk," Maurice said. "He just kinda felt something and went it (for treatment) and said he'd come back out. We were down to six minutes left on the clock and I liked the way Paddy Dwyer went in there.
"It was a bit of a gamble but I didn't want to put him at risk."
Staal assisted on Cory Stillman's eventual game-winner early in the third, but the Canes (34-29-10) had to hold on in the final minutes to outlast the Sens (27-37-9).
Goalie Cam Ward and forwards Chad LaRose and Jussi Jokinen were given the day off. All three are expected back on the ice Thursday for practice before the team leaves for Tampa.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Staal Injured??
Thu, 03/24/2011 - 08:52 — KlatterI am a firm beleiver that Staal is hurt. Ever since that Dallas game where he got hurt he has been playing less than Staal like.
Whoopee...
Thu, 03/24/2011 - 07:55 — schelle92Staal will be playing....but will he actually SHOW UP is the real question.
Shows up every night
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 14:36 — sittler27If you are going to make a sarcastic post you should be prepared for a harsh reply. Your comment shows no understanding or feel for hockey. Staal faces the other team's top shut down D and either the top offensive or defensive forwards on that team every night. He is often double teamed. His wingers are 2nd or 3rd line at best so who do you think gets all the attention and has little space to move in. He has also logged the highest minutes per game of any forward in the league.
Have you seen him up clsoe lately? He looks like a guy who has already finished a deep playoff run. He has lost weight, has soft tissue issues and seeing some of the medical room work, there are other issues in addition to the lower body one, that the team will not disclose. But he is so important to the team they really can't afford to shut him down the way Washington just did Ovie. If we were solidly in the playoffs I can almost guarantee he would be out for a couple of weeks.
He may not be as effective as we would all like on some nights but he sure as heck shows up and gives it the best of what he has got physically. Hockey is a high speed collision sport that now features much bigger, stronger, faster athletes than when I played.It takes its toll on the marquee players. What you don't know is that on some nights he is playing with physical issues that only allow him to give 80%.