You have to give Eric Staal credit. He did just about everything in his power to ensure the Canes won Sunday, exceeding his point total for the first five games of the series before the game was half over.
He set up Carolina’s first goal and scored the next two, a stunning individual performance that assured the Canes would live on to fight another day in a 4-0 win.
The way this team is built, the Canes aren’t going to win many playoff series when Staal has two points. Now, he has five, and the Canes are headed for a Game 7 in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Saturday morning, I wrote that Staal was the one player on the Carolina roster who could do what Martin Brodeur did in Game 5 — single-handedly turn the series in his team’s favor. Sunday night, he did just that.
It was, off the top of my head, the most impressive individual offensive performance by a Carolina player in the postseason since Rod Brind’Amour in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in 2006.
He had three rips early from the right circle, including one that Brodeur deflected but couldn’t stop, the puck fluttering over the crossbar. But Chad LaRose chased down the rebound on the third of those and fed it to Staal behind the net, where he found Ray Whitney in front for Carolina’s first goal.
And late in the period, with the Devils on a power play, Staal came from Zach Parise’s blind side to level Parise while he dawdled over the puck at the blue line.
In the second, he scored twice, less than three minutes apart, both off feeds from Whitney, slamming the first under Brodeur’s left leg before taking advantage of an open net on a two-on-one.
When he scored his second, the Hurricanes were outshooting the Devils 23-5. Staal had six of those shots. Paul Maurice decided to stick with the lines from the end of Game 5, and he made the right choice, with Whitney picking up points on all four of Carolina’s goals.
There were plenty of people who thought I was too hard on Staal, from fans to arena security guards to other players. But I have seen him do this before and I really felt the Canes needed him to do it to answer what Brodeur did Thursday.
He did it, in about as impressive a manner as possible.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
Comments
good call..
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 13:31 — tobaccomoneypay...I missed your comment about the line change in the other article Luke. That counts for ownership in my view.
Thanks for responding. I'm looking forward to reading your stories about game 7 and I'm hopeful (and expect with momentum carrying forward) that I'll be reading many more from the next series.
TM
good call, however
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 13:41 — tobaccomoneypay...You did make an astute observation Luke, and I enjoyed that article as I have many others you've written. An accurate prediction is on the record, and you are not to be blamed for bringing it to our attention. Sunday night was clearly a remarkable game for Eric, and one we can hope will be a breakout game if the run continues after tomorrow night.
You also, however, called out the the coaching staff for changing lines in the middle of the series. They were advised to to dance with the partner they came with, or something similar. (I immediately thought about the 2006 Gerber-Ward change when I saw that line). That move clearly worked for Staal and Whitney and looks now like another great playoff coaching move for Maurice. In my view your save percentage was .500 in that article.
How about a post on the line changes you advised against?
Sincerely
TM
"Tobacco Money Pays for My Hockey Tickets"
I mentioned the successful
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 08:11 — ldecock (author)I mentioned the successful switch along with Staal's big game in my column Monday:
As I mentioned to a reader who emailed me to share her concern over the switch, "On the one hand, you want to play your strongest hand (Ruutu-Staal-Cole). On the other, it's not like they've done much. I don't think the Canes are winning this series if Staal only has two points."
But I did think keeping Staal and Cole together was the right move, which Ray Whitney pointed out to me immediately after the game. And as I told him then, "Who knew you could play that well?"
So yes, Maurice does get credit there, although I believe that's addressed in yesterday's post about how Cullen's improvement made that possible.
good call...
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 13:51 — tobaccomoneypay...I should say that the line change looks like a great playoff coaching move rather than another. I'm not sure I can remeber any great playoff coaching desions from 2002.
Good on Staal
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 08:59 — HockeydogHe answered the call! Good job !! There is another call coming Tuesday.
Staal Deliverd Indeed
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 08:03 — LainiencLuke,
You were right. Eric Staal certainly demonstrated his capability to lead and dominate a game as you had described. The result was a spectacular game last night. Cam Ward continues to be rock solid in goal. Everyone on the team stepped up their intensity, passion and play last night as was evidenced by the score. The Canes' play infuriated NJ judging from that melee NJ instigated late in the third. Good for Tim Gleason giving Clarkson the beat down he deserved. Now the Canes just need to take it to them again on Tuesday like we know they can.
Class act on your part, Luke
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 05:17 — figaroClass act on your part, Luke - to call out a player in an article (well deserved IMO) and then follow it up with this worthy praise. One can only imagine how Staal would've been treated by the press in Toronto or Montreal prior to the big game six win. I give you at least an "assist" for Staal's performance last night. Come on, you gotta at least take some of the credit...