Staal feeling better, ready for Pens
You didn't really expect Eric Staal to miss this game, did you?
The Canes center missed part of Monday's practice and all of Tuesday's practice with some muscle tightness, but Staal was wheeling around the RBC Center ice today in the morning skate.
"I'm feeling a lot better and looking forward to tonight and hope we get a win," Staal said.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a 5-1 start and center Jordan Staal has been a key part of it. He has three goals and an assist and is plus-2. Eric Staal, in turn, has two goals and no assists in five games and is minus-2.
The Staals' father, Henry, is in town for the game. The three were able to go out to for a nice dinner Tuesday night as the Pens practiced Tuesday in Raleigh.
"Hopefully he'll see the Canes win tonight," Eric said of his dad.
To do that, Staal said, the Hurricanes must end an early trend of "taking way too many penalties."
"That's an area we need to get better at, especially against this team," he said. "Give them power play after power play and they'll make you pay, no matter what.
"You want to be physical, you want to be tough on the other team's top (lines), but you've got to be smart."
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
I would agree...
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 13:57 — esteban1949and on paper...there is no reason for the Canes NOT to be able to keep the Pens out of the nets and their zone either...after all if Chicago and come back the Canes ( in theory) should be able to as well...
Go Canes !!
Pitkanen
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 10:58 — GoShelfI heard he didn't finish practice and is unlikley for tonight. If true, it's unfortunate, he's one of our few defensemen that can matchup well against their top line's speed. Hopefully our dcore is up to the task tonight, their forwards will be coming at them early and often.
i think the dcore of this squad is
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 16:11 — hockeyhickbetter suited than last year's to limit the Pens potent offense, but the TEAM defense and discipline has to be there tonight. The forwards need to come back and battle for pucks in our zone so the d can keep the crease clear. Against a team like the Pens, with their weapons and goaltending, the canes truly have to work as a cohesive "unit of 5" in all three zones.
Avoiding the lazy penalty is also very key. Most of the penalties against the Canes this year have been a direct result of being out-hustled, something that simply shouldn't happen this early in the season. Typically the team that works the hardest ends up with the power plays-yet another MAJOR reason to out-work the Pens. That powerplay is deadly-no other way to put it.
I agree that Pitkanen would certainly be welcomed in the lineup tonight, but I think A Ward and Alberts can be effective in taking Malkin outta the picture with their physical edge and smart positional play. I think Aaron Ward was spot on when he said that this game needs to be played like a "tight road game", i.e. disciplined, physical, and opportunistic. I'll take a boring win over an exciting loss.