Bryan Allen finally made it. The defenseman, traded to the Canes on Monday afternoon, had his flight delayed by thunderstorms in the Raleigh area but said he arrived at his hotel at 4:30 a.m.

Six hours later, he was on the ice at the RBC Center for the morning skate. Wearing No. 5, he will be paired with Jay Harrison tonight against his former team, the Florida Panthers. Derek Joslin will be a scratch.

Allen needed to only look across the locker room to see a familiar face: Cory Stillman, traded to the Canes by the Panthers last week. Allen, with a smile, noted they called Stillman "Gramps" in Florida. Stillman, in turn, said Allen should be a good addition for a team fighting to make the playoffs.

"He's going to give us a physical presence, that's for sure," Stillman said. "He's a big man, he plays the body, he plays hard."

Updated 10:48 p.m.

RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes finally, on their fourth try this season, beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a 4-1 win at the RBC Center Friday.

But even with grabbing a pair of big points, center Eric Staal left the game late in the second period with an upper body injury and did not return.

Staal, following through on a shot in the slot, was hit hard by just-acquired Pittsburgh defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Staal, who earlier this week delivered a bit hit to his brother Marc Staal of the New York Rangers, stayed on the ice for moments before being led to the dressing room.

Carolina coach Paul Maurice said Staal won’t play in Saturday’s road game against the Montreal Canadiens.

RALEIGH — With the addition of forward Cory Stillman, who the Carolina Hurricanes acquired in a trade Thursday, coach Paul Maurice said the team has more flexibility, comfort, and depth at forward.

With Stillman, moving into the Eric Staal’s line with Erik Cole, forward Jussi Jokinen moves into Brandon Sutter’s line with Jiri Tlusty. 

“That’s a line we really liked because you can play them against the other team’s two best, but they find some ways to score, too,” Maurice said of Sutter’s line combination. “There’s some offense to that line. I think it sorts some things out. It gives us other options.”

Erik Cole’s impending return to the RBC Center with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday should mark one of the few times Carolina Hurricanes fans have had a real chance to salute one of their departed favorites.

Ron Francis, Arturs Irbe and Glen Wesley, just to name a few, were traded elsewhere but never played against the Hurricanes in Raleigh. A few returned to abuse — Keith Primeau tops that list — and a few to acclaim, like Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward when they returned with the New York Rangers less than five months after winning the Stanley Cup with the Canes.

Put it all together, and you get Tuesday’s Top Five: The top five Hurricanes homecomings.