Carolina's Eric Staal leaves game against Penguins with upper-body injury

RALEIGH, N.C. - Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal sustained an upper-body injury during the second period of Friday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and did not return.

Staal was levelled by a check from the side from Penguins defenceman Matt Niskanen and lay on the ice for a short time before skating to the Hurricanes' bench and immediately heading to the dressing room.

The Hurricanes had a 3-1 lead at the time of the collision.

Staal, who had an assist on Erik Cole's goal in the second period, has 27 goals and 32 assists on the season.