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Talking with reporters outside the Chicago locker room before the game, Blackhawks coach Denis Savard marveled at Eric Staal’s 30-minute effort in Saturday’s win over the Sabres.
Technically, it was 29 minutes, 43 seconds, but Savard was right to be worried.
Before 13 minutes were gone in the first period, Staal had three points and the Hurricanes had a three-goal lead on their way to a 3-0 win.
With six goals and 15 assists in the 13 games since Rod Brind’Amour was hurt — a 132-point pace — Staal is carrying the Hurricanes to the brink of the Southeast Division title. Even though the Capitals keep winning, it won’t matter if the Hurricanes don’t lose.
Cam Ward stopped all 25 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the year, but when Staal went to work, there was a lot less pressure on Ward. Wednesday was Staal’s ninth three-point game in 72 games this season — and fourth in the past eight.
“I’m getting the opportunity to play those key minutes and more minutes,” Staal said. “It’s been going good for us as of late and we want it to keep going.”
He picked up the second assist on Carolina’s first goal as Sergei Samsonov set up Erik Cole in the slot, held in a clearing attempt at the blue line and took a shot that fell to Matt Cullen in front on the second.
Joe Corvo’s pass across the blue line sent Staal past Duncan Keith and he put a little backhand move on Corey Crawford to make it 3-0.
With the Hawks playing at Detroit the night before, that was game, set and match — not to mention Carolina’s first five-game winning streak since December 2006.
“We knew they played last night and we wanted to come out with fire and let them know we were here to play,” Staal said. “We really attacked them hard. We were all over their (defense) and drew some power plays and got some bounces and capitalized.”
In the second period, Andrew Ladd tried to get a hit in on Staal as he turned at the left circle. Ladd ended up on his butt as Staal shrugged off the hit, just like the Canes shrugged off the Hawks.
Other thoughts on Wednesday’s game:
• Matt Cullen left the game with 11 minutes to play after he was tripped and flipped by Dave Bolland. He returned to the bench with five minutes to play but did not return to the ice. Cullen said afterward that he landed on his shoulder but was OK.
Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said a preliminary examination of Cullen's shoulder indicated no damage but said they'd know more tomorrow.
• The Hurricanes haven’t lost to the Hawks since April 3, 1999 (7-0-1, with the third digit one of those now-excinct ties). They also had gone 0-4-0 against the Central Division before Wednesday.
• Samsonov was booed when his name was announced as a starter for the visiting “Panthers.” Tuomo Ruutu, coincidentally enough, was pictured on Wednesday’s game tickets.
“That’s kind of funny,” Ruutu said. “It was fun to come back. In warmups there were a couple signs, so it’s nice for the fans, too.”
Both Samsonov and Ruutu picked up assists, Samsonov on the first Carolina goal and Ruutu on the third.
Samsonov looked like he was as excited as Cole about Carolina’s first goal, but I asked him if I was reading too much into that.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Samsonov said. “Our objective was to come out strong and get a quick goal, knowing that they played last game.”
• Corvo — who grew up in suburban Oak Park — Cullen, Samsonov and Staal all extended their scoring streaks to five games. Scott Walker’s ended at four games as the Bayda-Aucoin-Walker line failed to score, a rarity these days.
• Ladd hit Bret Hedican into the end boards on the game’s first shift and Craig Adams did the same to Dennis Seidenberg on his first shift. On Ladd’s second shift, the Canes were calling for a penalty when he narrowly missed going knee-to-knee with Samsonov.
Craig Adams nearly scored in the second when he got past Frantisek Kaberle for an open look at Ward, off a pass from Kevyn Adams, but hit the post.
• Over the past six games, the Hurricanes have had a 37-19 power-play advantage. They’re 7-for-37 over that span.
• But forget about the Hawks or the woeful Bulls or the Cubs and Sox in spring training: The big story in Chicago was Evanston advancing to the state 4A semifinals in basketball Tuesday with a win over Mt. Carmel.
The Wildkits are now one win away from their first title game since 1984 and two wins away from their first state title since 1968.
N&O
sports writer Luke DeCock tracks the Carolina Hurricanes.
