The Carolina Hurricanes will honor franchise legend Eric Staal as part of the festivities connected to their Sunday game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Yet there could be some question about whether his younger brother doesn’t try to steal the spotlight.
Jordan Staal, the captain of the Hurricanes, is riding a sudden hot streak heading into the game at Raleigh, N.C.
He has scored five of his nine goals this season during the past three games.
“It has been fun and always nice to chip in that way,” Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, try to chip in a lot of different ways to help us win. It’s always a plus when the puck is going in.”
A pregame ceremony will involve a No. 12 jersey retirement for Eric Staal, a former first-round draft pick and standout center for Carolina (2003-16).
The Hurricanes are riding their first two-game winning streak in nearly a month after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 on Friday night. They’ve won six of their past seven home games.
The Ducks have dropped three in a row (0-2-1) after losing 6-0 on Saturday at Philadelphia for their most-lopsided defeat of 2024-25. It marked the first time that the team had been shut out this season.
Anaheim has allowed six goals in each of its past two games. At the other end, the Ducks have played their past three games without leading scorer Troy Terry, who has missed time because of the birth of his second child.
Ducks coach Greg Cronin has called what his team has experienced on this trip “a beatdown.”
Anaheim forward Cutter Gauthier drew considerable attention because he was playing in his first game in Philadelphia after he spurned the Flyers, who drafted him. Admittedly, it was a dreadful experience for the team on Saturday.
“We’re not going to let one game affect us throughout the whole year,” Gauthier said. “We’re right back at it (Sunday). We got a clean slate.”
Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger has been a healthy scratch for three straight games, but he could draw back into the lineup with the games on back-to-back days.
Carolina forward Andrei Svechnikov has scored in two of the past three games.
“Five games ago, it didn’t go my way,” Svechnikov said. “It was a little bit confidence. I wouldn’t say it was everything.”
Svechnikov is on a line with Staal and Jordan Martinook, and that group has been producing at a high clip across the past week.
“We just go there and try to work and talent is going to take over at some point,” Svechnikov said.
Svechnikov had a nine-game stretch without a goal and seems to have found a spark with Staal and Martinook.
“He has been taking big steps lately and really showing what he can do,” Jordan Staal said. “He’s strong as an ox and he made a great goal (Friday).”
Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said he’s concerned about Martinook’s status for Sunday’s game. Martinook blocked a couple of shots Friday that caused pain that could impact his availability.
While the Hurricanes might be turning the corner in some areas, they’ve still had some concerning numbers. They’ve scored three or fewer goals in nine of their past 12 games, and their 20 shots on goal in the Vancouver game marked their fewest in a game since a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 3.
–Field Level Media
