Eric Staal News

"It's an unfortunate reason why I'm coming here, but I'm excited. This is too good a team to be struggling but weird stuff is happening -- they just aren't getting those bounces.

Brandon Sutter #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores backhanded goal during a NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 6, 2009 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference will meet tonight in Raleigh, as the free-falling Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs for tonight's battle at RBC Center.

Coming off the first playoff appearance in franchise history and vying for the Central Division lead, the Columbus Blue Jackets can certainly be considered a successful franchise.

Jason Blake scored on a power play with 8:24 left and Jonas Gustavsson made 34 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs win for the second time in 14 games this season, 3-2 over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Of all teams, the Carolina Hurricanes should know: When it rains, it pours. If a franchise-worst 2-9-3 start wasn't enough, they'll have to dig themselves out of the hole without star center Eric Staal .

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.

The Carolina Hurricanes have averaged the fewest goals in the NHL while the Toronto Maple Leafs have allowed the most per game.

Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun simply wouldn't let the Carolina Hurricanes end their losing streak.

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.

San Jose has had little trouble racking up wins so far this season, though it's only in the last week or so the Sharks feel they've actually started playing well.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal, right, falls to the ice during Sunday's game with San Jose as teammate Ray Whitney battles with Doug Murray of the Sharks.

Kent Huskins and Brad Staubitz scored 1:22 apart in the second period, Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves and the surging San Jose defeated reeling Carolina 5-1 on Sunday.

The Carolina Hurricanes activated forward Erik Cole from injured reserve Sunday.

To be fair, it's very early in the NHL season. That said, today's NHL stars have huge expectations thrust upon them, and, to date, there is a long list of "stars" that are not shining right now, which may jeopardize their spot with their respective Olympic teams.

It's a special anniversary for Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal, and he'll spend it with NHL Live! It was four years and one day ago that the two-time NHL All-Star scored his first NHL hat trick, and he'll talk about that and more Thursday with co-hosts Deb Placey and E.J. Hradek.

The Hurricanes' Eric Staal took to the RBC Center ice twice Tuesday. The first time was Tuesday morning for the Hurricanes' scheduled practice, and Staal skated and worked hard.

The Carolina Hurricanes have mostly struggled on offense, especially on the road.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Off the post, off his face, on the ice and into the net. Cal Clutterbuck might not score too many goals like that.

Hockey: Duhatschek Weekly notebook: The NHL's slow starters Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes only have two wins in their first eight games and are averaging less than three goals a game.