Center Eric Staal, who did not play after the second period of the Canes' 4-3 shootout victory Thursday night in San Jose because a lower-body injury, said he intends to be in the lineup Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Staal had a hamstring issue, with the muscle tightening as the game wore on. While he wanted to return to the game, he accepted the precautionary decision to hold him out and said it was the right thing to do.
"It should be good. I feel good," Staal said Friday. "It feels a lot better than it did yesterday which is a good sign.
"I got some rest and let it heal and today it feels a lot better. I'm pretty optimistic that there won't be any problems, strength-wise, and I'll feel good and be ready to go."
Staal has played in 307 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the NHL. He said he has not had any hamstring issues in the past.
"It's just one of those things where it got worse in the second period and they told me I couldn't play the third," he said. "But we got a huge win with a gritty effort."
Staal laughed, adding, "They were fine once they got rid of the dead weight."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Hope its the right decision
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 08:58 — Canes73So many times you see players not take the extra time to heal and end up making it worse. I hope this doesn't happen to Staal. We need him for the playoff run. I kinda wish he would take tonight off and go home and rest up for Thursday's big game against Florida.
Hey canes73
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 10:18 — esteban1949i would agree with you 1000% with your posting...thanks...
Go Canes !!
At least
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 07:30 — esteban1949no one can say or claim that Eric Staal has an "ego" problem. And as to the other comments about the wavier wire, can Jr & the canes really "afford" anyone like a samsonov or would it better for the canes to keep several of the curent rat players up here with us instead of sending them back down...even though the rats are hurting worse than we are in the injury department, and their w/l record shows it. malichar is playing his heart out there in Albany by the way. He has been getting more ice time there in /with Albany than here. As you have to admit Ryan,Rodney & Petruzalek sure have been a boost to the canes and have helped put pucks in the net, and a W on the standings...Don't mis-understand me...heck i miss seeing Nick and Rod on the ice playing. ...but we has to do what we has to do with the playoff mentality the canes need to hang on to.
Go canes !
Walker
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 23:25 — smccorkleDoes anyone know the status of walker ? Is he anywhere close to returning. There seems to be a lot of big names close to the waiver wire - it would be nice to pick up another sami !!!
gritty
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 19:59 — toddchrissevery game for this team is like a playoff game because florida is turning it on. chad la rose needs to be rewarded with more time because that kids effort is starting impress the hell out of me. i like to see more grit out of staal.cullen is starting to look like culley of the cup run. we need a big time run in the win colume to make the playoffs, period
Nice
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 18:18 — GoShelfLove the comment at the end. Gotta feeling it's gonna the whole coaching staff to keep him off the ice at this point in the season.