RALEIGH, N.C. -- Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal continued his hot post-season start on Wednesday night.
The Thunder Bay forward picked up an assist in the Hurricanes 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators, giving Carolina a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round series.
Staal, 32, scored twice in Carolina's Game 1 win.
Older brother Eric, who won a Cup with Carolina in 2006, is expected to make his 2021 playoff debut on Thursday night when the Montreal Canadiens visit the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs to kick off the North Division's opening round. The elder Staal, traded to the Habs from Buffalo ahead of the trade deadline, is one of six Canadiens with a championship etched on his NHL resume.
Thunder Bay's other Stanley Cup hopeful, Robert Bortuzzo, wasn't as fortunate on Wednesday night, his St. Louis Blues doubled up 6-3 by the heavily favoured Colorado Avalanche. The Avs now lead the Blues 2-0.
Bortuzzo won a Stanley Cup with the Blues two years ago.
