RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal sustained an upper-body injury during the second period of Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and did not return.
Staal was leveled by a check from the side from Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen and lay on the ice for a short time before skating to the Hurricanes’ bench and immediately heading to the dressing room.
The Hurricanes had a 3-1 lead at the time of the collision.
Staal, who had an assist on Erik Cole’s goal in the second period, has 27 goals and 32 assists on the season.
