Jordan Staal made history by playing his 910th game as a Carolina Hurricane, surpassing his brother Eric Staal to become the franchise leader. The milestone came during a Thursday night game in Raleigh, N.C., where the Hurricanes faced the Minnesota Wild.
During the first period, Staal was involved in a rare fight with Minnesota Wild’s Tyler Pitlick. The altercation caused Staal to miss a significant portion of the game. Despite this, the Hurricanes secured a close 4-3 victory over the Wild.
“I appreciate the boys battling it out for me there. Getting a good memory out of milestone game and getting the two points. It has been a lot of fun with these guys here and all the other teammates I’ve played with it has been just a joy and blessing and I’m just happy to keep going.”
At 37 years old, Jordan Staal ranks third in franchise history for games played when including the team’s earlier era as the Hartford Whalers. He trails only Ron Francis, who played 1,186 games, and Glen Wesley with 913. Before joining Carolina, Staal spent his first six NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jordan Staal’s milestone underscores his lasting impact and leadership within the Hurricanes, marked by memorable moments both on and off the ice.