Jordan Staal 'Doubtful' To Play Against Washington Capitals

The Carolina Hurricanes will more than likely be without captain Jordan Staal Wednesday night as the team takes on the Metro leading Washington Capitals.

Staal missed the team's last game on Sunday with a lower-body injury and subsequently the next two team practices as well.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour stated on Tuesday that the centerman was doubtful for Wednesday.

"I would say doubtful," Brind'Amour said on Staal's availability. "I don't think we're dealing with anything very serious, but we're just taking all the precautions here right now."

Staal, 36, has 12 goals and 33 points this season and has only missed two games so far this year.

It's a big hole to fill for Carolina, both literally and figuratively as Staal is the team's shutdown centerman and one of their best forecheckers and penalty killers.

Add in that Alex Ovechkin is coming to town within spitting distance of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal scoring record and the Hurricanes will have their hands full if the captain indeed doesn't go.

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