Jordan Staal will miss tonight's game against the Flyers with a lower-body injury, the Hurricanes announced.
The veteran logged 14:12 in Saturday's win in Chicago and finished plus-1.
He's still looking for his first point this season on a $2,975,000 cap hit.
Missing one game against a winless team won't hurt Carolina much. At 38, though, a lower-body issue is the kind that can linger longer than anyone wants.
Losing a player like Staal for a night is like your most reliable coworker calling in sick. The work still gets done, it's just a little messier.
The Hurricanes are 4-1-1 and riding a four-game winning streak.
Tonight is the back half of a back-to-back for both teams, so fresh legs will be at a premium.
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Jordan Staal ruled out as Hurricanes face another injury concern
Mark Jankowski has 3 goals on a $1,850,000 deal, and he's one of the names who could see more responsibility tonight.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nicolas Deslauriers are other options for Rod Brind'Amour as he reshuffles his forwards.
Sebastian Aho still leads the way with 9 points, 5 of them goals.
Logan Stankoven has 4 goals, including one shorthanded, so the Hurricanes have finishers up and down the lineup.
Nikolaj Ehlers is still searching for his first goal on an $8,500,000 cap hit.
Taylor Hall has 3 goals at 34, still producing like a top-six piece.
Carolina already edged Philadelphia 3-2 past regulation on Oct. 3, the first meeting between these teams this season.
The Flyers are 0-4-2 and just placed Travis Konecny on IR while recalling Oliver Bonk. They've scored just 7 goals all season.
Pyotr Kochetkov sits at .895 and Brandon Bussi is at .871, so neither crease has been airtight.
How long does Carolina have to go without the veteran?
The Hurricanes are already managing the Alexander Nikishin trade request, though Elliotte Friedman believes they would take him back.
Washington visits Tuesday, then Carolina heads to Winnipeg on Saturday.
One game is nothing. Lower-body issues for veterans have a habit of turning into more than that.
Should the Hurricanes worry about Jordan Staal's lower-body injury?
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