Carolina's quest to snap its franchise-record tying losing
streak just got a little harder, as the Hurricanes will be without center Eric
Staal for tonight's game against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.
Staal suffered an upper-body injury in Sunday's 5-1 setback to San Jose,
Carolina's ninth in a row (0-6-3), and is expected to miss at least the
Hurricanes' next three games. Head coach Paul Maurice labeled Staal week-to-
week following practice on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old has played in 349 straight games, tied for the second-longest
active streak in the NHL. Coming off a 40-goal season last year, Staal has
three goals and two assists this year.
The loss of Staal isn't good news for a Carolina club that has matched its
longest losing streak ever, a skid that was first set by the Hartford Whalers
from February 19-March 8, 1983. The Hurricanes' 2-8-3 start is also the team's
worst since relocating to Carolina prior to 1997-98.
They haven't won since beating these same Florida Panthers on October 9.
Brandon Sutter scored the game's first goal on Sunday versus the Sharks, but
Cam Ward yielded the next five and stopped 20 shots in all. Carolina, which
reached the Eastern Conference finals last season, has scored two goals or
less in seven of its last nine losses and has been outscored 16-4 in its last
three games.
"[We're trying] to get more of five men moving at the same time," Maurice told
the Hurricanes' official Web site. "What we have right now is one guy sort of
moving and everybody else totally waiting to see what the result of that
movement is before we go. Then, your team starts to look slower."
The loss of Staal offsets the return of Erik Cole, who had missed 10 games due
to a broken leg before playing on Sunday. Also, defenseman Tim Gleason could
return tonight after missing five straight games with an upper-body injury.
Jussi Jokinen replaced Staal on the first line in Tuesday's practice. He had a
goal and two assists in Carolina's 7-2 win over Florida on October 9. Ward
made 25 saves in that game and is 9-4-0 with a 2.88 goals-against average in
his career versus the Panthers.
The Hurricanes picked up that victory after splitting six meetings with the
Panthers last year. Carolina has lost three of its last five in Florida.
The Panthers have won two straight following a four-game slide, and are coming
off Saturday's 4-0 win over St. Louis.
Tomas Vokoun, who gave up five goals on 26 shots versus Carolina in October,
turned aside all 34 shots faced for his first shutout of the season and 32nd
of his career.
"Every time you get a shutout, there's got to be a mix of good play and a
little bit of luck," said Vokoun, who won for the first time since October 2
in Finland versus Chicago and for just the second time this year (2-7-1).
Stephen Weiss, Cory Stillman, Dennis Seidenberg and Nathan Horton picked up
the goals for the Panthers.
Vokoun is 9-7-4 with a tie and 2.82 GAA in his career versus the Hurricanes.
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