Round 1, Game 2 – Player of the Game: Jordan Staal

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 20: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes warms up prior to Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at Lenovo Center on April 20, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It can be difficult to choose a “player of the game” in a team sport when each player is so important to the success of the team. But sometimes a player will go above and beyond and earn some special recognition.

After Saturday’s game, Evan chose Frederik Andersen for that shout out, and deservedly so. For Monday night’s game, I’m going with Jordan Staal.

Without doing a deep dive on the statistical analysis and fancy stats, let’s rely on the event summary and the eye test.

Of course Staal did not have a perfect game. For instance, he only won 42% in the faceoff circle, although that was a team high. But he had an overall tremendous positive impact for the game.

The “old man” of the team led all forwards with 27:22 of ice time, barely ahead of Sebastian Aho. He was credited with seven hits, second behind only William Carrier’s 12.

Although he was called offsides on the play, he broke Jordan Martinook free on a perfect pass which created an eventual penalty shot. Before that, Mark Jankowski had scored the first game-winner which was eventually erased by the gurus in Toronto.

Before that, he led Aho with a perfect pass which Aho scored on, shorthanded.

On Martinook’s game-winning blast, Staal was in front of the net blocking Linus Ullmark’s view. There is no credit on the scoresheet for that, but his play was vital.

Staal finished with a plus 2 for the night, again a well deserved (+2).

While other players performed very well, I’m giving it up for Staal for this game.

The Hurricanes are practicing this morning before their flight to Ottawa.