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Every Wednesday during the season, NHL.com fantasy hockey expert Matt Cubeta will provide you with an in-depth analysis of fantasy centers in our weekly segment: "Center Stage." From updated center rankings to guys you should keep a close eye on and much
Habs Barely .500 without #79 Since the start of the season, a question has been on my mind. At first it was just a little bit of curiosity on behalf of a guy who covers two teams very closely, a thought about the longevity and endurance of both the Montr
Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) celebrates one of his third-period goals, behind Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (76), during an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Montreal. Carolina won 5-3. View Photo »
It was up tempo, with a lot of pace
THE SHOOTOUT. In most NHL cities, fans rise to their feet for the sudden-death breakaway competition. In Philadelphia, fans often leave the building - knowing that the Flyers have little chance to skate off with the extra point. No team has fared worse t
The Carolina Hurricanes closed out their three-game road trip with a win, rallying in the third period to overtake the Canadiens and give Kirk Muller a 5-3 win in his first visit to Montreal as a head coach. Eric Staal scored twice, and Jiri Tlusty, Jaro
Last Feb. 22 in Raleigh, New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal suffered two injuries in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. One was to his knee, where there still is a chunk of tissue under the skin that the 25-year-old star can move around with his
Members of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal by center Eric Staal as Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny, left, skates by in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Denver. View Photo »
They got Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner. Tuomo Ruutu’s OK. But they don’t have any other forwards. Their defense corps, he keeps getting recycled guys. How can you keep winning with recycled players? You click for a while, eh? They have a goalie (Cam Ward) who’s very good. He’s going to need some relief, t...
MONTREAL (AP) — Jaroslav Spacek scored in his return to Montreal and the Carolina Hurricanes snapped the Canadiens' four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Monday night. Captain Eric Staal scored twice for the for the Hurricanes, who won for the t
Eric Staal netted two goals and added an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Jamie McBain had a goal and an assist, while Jiri Tlusty and Jaroslav Spacek scored for the Hurricanes, who got 30 s
Eric Staal (born on 29 October, 1984 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He is the older brother of Marc Staal, who is playing for the New York Rangers, Jordan Staal who is playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jared Staal, who was drafted by... Full Article
Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) hugs Jiri Tlusty, of the Czech Republic, following Tlusty's goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Carolina won 2-1.
View Photo »Members of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal by center Eric Staal as Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny, left, skates by in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Denver.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) battles with New York Islanders' Frans Nielsen (51), of Denmark, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) tries to score as Winnipeg Jets' Zach Bogosian (4) and goalie Chris Mason (50) defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Carolina won 2-1.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Goalkeeper Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins stops a shot by Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes during play at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 4-2.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes draws a penalty as he hits Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Boston Bruins in the face during play at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes eyes the puck as he faces off against David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins during play at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) falls to the ice chasing Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Carolina won 4-2.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 10: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes battles for the puck with Marc-Andre Bourdon #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers during play at the RBC Center on January 10, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View Photo »NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 07: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes collides with Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on January 7, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
View Photo »NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 07: Eric Staal #12 and Jay Harrison #44 of the Carolina Hurricanes skate against Patric Hornqvist #27 of the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on January 7, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) shoots against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, in the third period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 5-2.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 06: Eric Staal #12 and Tuomo Ruutu #15 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate Stall's third-period goal against the Buffalo Sabres during play at the RBC Center on January 6, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 4-2.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 06: Nathan Gerbe #42 of the Buffalo Sabres battles for the puck with Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes during play at the RBC Center on January 6, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View Photo »RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 06: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after his team's second-period goal against the Buffalo Sabres during play at the RBC Center on January 6, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal, right, celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates Jussi Jokinen (36), of Finland, and Tuomo Ruutu (15), also of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Carolina won 4-2.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) and Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Myers (57) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Carolina won 4-2.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal, bottom, falls to the ice while chasing Buffalo Sabres' Matt Ellis (37) as Sabres' Luke Adam (72) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Carolina won 4-2.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) and New York Islanders' Steve Staios (24) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) congratulates goalie Cam Ward (30) following the Hurricanes' 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) celebrates his game-winning overtime goal with Brandon Sutter (16) during an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. The Hurricanes won 4-3.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) celebrates his goal with Zac Dalpe (22) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. The Hurricanes won 4-3 in overtime.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) brings the puck up ice after taking it away from New Jersey Devils' Petr Sykora (15), of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Monday, Dec. 26, 2011.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) battles for the puck with Ottawa Senators' Nick Foligno (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. The Hurricanes won 2-1 in overtime.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) looks to pass the puck as Ottawa Senators' Filip Kuba (17) of the Czech Republic, and goalie Craig Anderson (41) close in during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. The Hurricanes won 2-1 in overtime.
View Photo »Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) hugs Jiri Tlusty, of the Czech Republic, following Tlusty's goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. , Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Carolina won 2-1.
View Photo »It was up tempo, with a lot of pace
They got Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner. Tuomo Ruutu’s OK. But they don’t have any other forwards. Their defense corps, he keeps getting recycled guys. How can you keep winning with recycled players? You click for a while, eh? They have a goalie (Cam Ward) who’s very good. He’s going to need some relief, t...
It's a little more attack-type system, with a little more jump in our step
I don't believe so. I really think Eric Staal had gotten along well with Paul Maurice and I know he respect Paul Maurice. … Maurice always had the reputation as being a players' coach. I don't think he's lost all the confidence in the room, but certainly some of it.
Things are different if I'm 20 goals into the season and we're five games above .500. I'm sure it's a totally different situation ... But we're not, I'm not, and it's definitely something you think about and feel bad for. But there's not much you can do. That's where we're at now and it's a clean slate ...
I've been playing with Poni the last couple of games and we've had some chemistry ... We spent a lot of time in the other team's end, so that's a positive. Then to add someone like Eric Staal, who's an amazing player. ...(Maurice) came up to me and said, 'Keep playing the same way, keep playing energeti...
Naturally you're going to feel that
Five on five I thought we were skating a lot better than they were
The effort was there. We competed
Naturally you’ll feel that ... If I’m in 20 goals into the season and we’re five games over .500, I’m sure it’s a different situation. But we’re not, and I’m not.
The biggest focus is energy and excitement. Go out there and play with jump ... We’ve got young guys who can skate and work, and we’ve got to bring that.
I naturally have always put a lot of pressure on myself
I was glad to score just to get it within one and give us a chance ... Our compete level was there, the guys worked, but we didn’t ultimately get the result we wanted and it still sucks.
Once the shot was taken by them or by us, our reaction speed to get back on the puck needed to be a little better than it was
They were throwing everything at the net, getting their point shots through ... Once we got it into the offensive zone and we were cycling it around, we did get some looks but we didn't do it consistently enough and ended up with a loss.
It was a tough start but I’m trying to leave that behind me and look forward to getting better every game ... It’s been better as of late. I feel a lot more comfortable a lot more confident out there, creating a lot more offence. I need a few to get to the back of the net to really get going but those c...
No question there's concern
I go home and it's tough to leave it at the rink
Doing your best to stay positive and bringing your work ethic
For a guy who faced 12 shots through two periods to make some of the saves he did in the third is a testament to how good he is
This is big ... No one likes the situation we're in and no one likes to lose. It was nice to have the same type of effort we had against Buffalo (in Friday's 1-0 loss), and we were rewarded with some goals.
I felt OK on the wing ... It was a little bit of an adjustment, but watching [Jeff] Skinner a little bit in the first and second, I kind of figured it out in the third.
At this point, that's really frustrating, considering where we're at and where we've been
We were aggressive and I think five-on-five we generated more than they did
We didn't play. We got what we deserved
