Thursday night will be a big night at the Lenovo Center. Not only are the Carolina Hurricanes set to face Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild, but history is expected to be made. Jordan Staal tied his brother, Eric, for the most games as a Carolina Hurricane in the team's victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Naturally, his next game will break the tie.
Staal's 910th game with the Hurricanes will make him the team's leader since relocation in 1997, while moving him into sole possession of 3rd in franchise history, behind only NHL Hall of Famer Ron Francis (1,186 games) and Hurricanes Hall of Famer Glen Wesley (913), who Staal should pass for 2nd next Friday against the Vancouver Canucks, assuming nothing crazy happens before then.
Since joining the Hurricanes at the 2012 Draft via a trade with the Penguins, Staal has been the epitome of what it means to be a Hurricane. He's near the top of almost every major statistical category since relocation, proving to have a clutch gene both during the regular season and the postseason.
With the captain reaching such a major milestone on Thursday night, I thought that now would be a perfect time to highlight some of his best moments, games, and accomplishments during his tenure with the Hurricanes. While his crowning achievement, a Stanley Cup win, was accomplished with the Penguins before his move, there is still plenty to celebrate during Jordan Staal's time in Raleigh.
10. Staal's 1st Hurricanes goal (2/4/13)
Let's take it back to where it all began, or at least a few months after the Hurricanes first acquired him. With his debut delayed by the lockout in 2012, Staal began his tenure as a point-per-game player. Heading into the team's meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs in February of 2013, Staal had six assists in seven games, but he'd yet to find the back of the net.
Down a goal in the second period, his first goal as a Hurricane is owed to the excellent work along the boards by Jeff Skinner and, especially, Patrick Dwyer. All Staal had to do was tap it in at the top of the crease past James Reimer. Staal returned the favor in the third, setting up Dwyer for the Canes' fourth and final goal in a 4-1 victory on the road.
9. Staal's 4-assist game (11/13/17)
Throughout his career, Jordan Staal has recorded four points in a game five times. His most recent four-point performance came nearly eight years ago. His previous four four-point games had all been performances with a goal and three assists, but Staal took a different route for this one, recording a career-high four assists in a contest against the Dallas Stars.
He began his night by setting up Sebastian Aho for a goal in the first period. Dallas tied it at one in the second, sending the game into the third deadlocked. Teuvo Teravainen took over the final 20 minutes, recording a natural hat trick in just over seven minutes, with all three goals featuring some help from Staal. The Canes struck once more late in the third to beat the Stars, 5-1, on home ice.
8. Staal reaches the 1,000-game mark (4/12/21)
It feels like the 1,000-game milestone is one of the biggest in the NHL. There's a lot of pomp and circumstance surrounding it, and Jordan Staal's arrival at 1,000 was no exception. The team honored him before their game with the Detroit Red Wings, and Staal recorded an assist in their 3-1 loss at home.
Staal has played over 300 more games since reaching this mark, and Game #1300 was also rather entertaining. Down 3-2 in the third in Chicago, Staal stuck with it and popped a loose puck home to tie the game, recording his 700th point in the process. The Canes went on to win the contest, 4-3, in overtime on a Sebastian Aho winner.
7. The brothers lead the comeback (1/27/14)
There had to be a ton of appeal in uniting Jordan Staal with his older brother in Raleigh, but it didn't mean that the two would play together. It wasn't until their second season that they finally connected for a goal, with Eric setting up Jordan for the first time on 11/5/13. Over two months later, the two helped create a comeback victory.
Down 2-0 after 40 minutes, surrendering two goals in 17 seconds in the first period to Columbus, the eldest brother struck twice exactly 60 seconds apart to draw even. The real highlight was Jordan's goal. He dangled through the defense and scored on his backhand as he hit the ice. It finished three goals in 2:47, giving the Canes a 3-2 lead, which they would hold in a victory over the Blue Jackets.
6. The long drought is finally over (4/10/22)
There aren't many who would call Jordan Staal a "sniper" or a "natural goal-scorer." He's known more for his willingness to forecheck, grind, and get to the dirty areas on the ice. However, when he does score, no one complains. Entering play on April 10, 2022, it had been forever since he'd recorded a hat trick in the regular season. All of that changed against the Ducks.
The first period was wild, with Staal scoring the second of five goals. The Canes escaped the frame with a 3-2 lead, which stood into the third. Staal struck a second time with 6:18 left in regulation to double the lead before finishing his hat trick into the empty net. At 13 years, 142 days, it's the longest time between two hat tricks in regular season history, though he had one in the playoffs in 2012.
5. The captain reaches 300 (and 301) goals (10/18/25)
Entering this season, we were already on milestone watch for the captain, needing just two more goals to reach 300 for his career. He notched #299 in the team's early victory over the Flyers, heading onto their six-game trip needing one more to hit the mark. On the Canes' third stop in Los Angeles, history would be made.
Staal wasted little time getting his 300th, scoring 12 seconds into the game by finishing a pass from William Carrier at the side of the net. He enjoyed reaching 300 so much that he got a head start on 400 by scoring again nearly four minutes later. Staal hasn't scored another goal since then, sitting at 301, 181 of which have come as a Carolina Hurricane.
4. Starting a big weekend off right (1/9/25)
While it took him over 13 years between his 2nd and 3rd hat tricks, it didn't take him nearly as long to get his 4th. With his brother's jersey retirement set for January 12th, Jordan Staal decided to start the festivities the right way. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, the captain lit the lamp three times, spreading the wealth throughout the night.
It started with a tough finish after the Canes fell behind 2-0. Then, he scored short-handed with his partner-in-crime, Jordan Martinook. To complete the hat trick, Staal redirected a shot from the point early in the third to earn the trifecta. By the end of the week, Staal earned 2nd star honors from the league after five goals and seven points in four games.
3. An OT winner to regain momentum (5/25/21)
Few players possess a clutch gene as large as Jordan Staal. In the postseason, Staal is tied for the most postseason overtime goals in team history, sharing the honor with Niclas Wallin. He notched his first in 2019, ending Game 1 of the 2nd Round on Long Island with the winner, before striking twice more in 2021.
After winning twice at home, the Canes suffered two 2OT losses in Nashville to even the series. In Game 5, Jordan Staal played the hero. Juuse Saros stopped the initial chance at 4-on-4, but Staal took a big swing. He didn't get much on it, hitting Roman Josi's pants and hopping into the net to seize control of the series. He added another OT goal in the 2nd round against the Bolts in Game 3.
2. It's all in the family (4/25/13)
As you've probably figured out, the Staal family is one of the most important families to ever wear the Hurricanes sweater. While Eric and Jordan take most of the shine and accolades, there is a third Staal brother who suited up for two games at the end of the 2012-13 season. With the Canes already out of the playoff picture, Eric and Jordan were joined by their youngest brother, Jared.
The trio started the game together, taking the opening draw as a family. It was made even sweeter since the game was played against the New York Rangers, for whom their fourth brother, Marc, played, though he was absent due to an injury. Eric was the only brother to find the scoresheet in the 4-3 OT loss, but it was the moment itself that really stands out as one of the best.
1. Staal comes up clutch in Game 7 (4/24/19)
For all of his great moments as a Carolina Hurricane, I don't know if there are any bigger than this one, and it probably doesn't come as a shock that this is my choice for Jordan Staal's best moment. Everyone remembers Brock McGinn's winner during the second overtime, but it doesn't happen without Staal snapping one home in the third.
Down 3-2 early in the period, Staal swooped down the right side and beat Braden Holtby cleanly to his blocker side, tying the game at three. It was a very stoppable shot, though it was placed perfectly by the center. Nearly six years later, Staal replicated this shot, scoring from nearly the same spot in Game 5 against the Capitals last postseason.