WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

Staal could return to game action on Wednesday

By Tim Hall

Nov 24, 2009

The Carolina Hurricanes' superstar center could be back in the lineup Wednesday night in a road game in Anaheim.

Staal hasn't played since the team's match against San Jose on November 1.  He's since missed 10 straight games with an upper body injury he suffered in that game.

Team insider and TV play-by-play voice John Forslund told 99.9 The Fan and 620 The Buzz that Staal is very close to coming back.

"I think he's gonna play Wednesday in Anaheim, I heard he had a wonderful workout today (Monday) in Dallas," Forslund told The Fan.

One of the big questions now is how Staal's return to the lineup will affect Brandon Sutter's role with the team.

"Where does he go, does Staal go back on the top line? Do you move Sutter off that line? It's kind of a good problem to have," Forslund said. "But it will be an interesting decision that Paul Maurice will be faced with."

Sutter's season stats with the Canes include 5 goals and 4 assists in just 14 games.  Staal has 3 goals and 2 assists in 13 games this year.

The Canes face-off at Anaheim at 10 p.m. Wednesday night.  Catch the Stormfront on 99.9 The Fan at 9:30 followed by the call of the game.