He who laughs last laughs the longest — especially when they get to fire a game-clinching slap shot at the opponent.
That was the case for Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal on Tuesday night as his team rolled to a 4-1 win over the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. The loss was Toronto’s fifth in a row and eighth in its last 10 games, as the firing of head coach Randy Carlyle hasn’t exactly jump-started the team.
Frustration boiled over Tuesday for Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. With Toronto down 3-0 in the third period, Phaneuf took some of his frustration out on Carolina forward Jordan Staal with a big hit. Eric Staal responded in kind — as a captain and a brother — and challenged the much bigger Phaneuf to a fight.
The results weren’t very good for Staal.
Of course, it’s important to note that was Staal’s first fight since 2006, so what did you really expect?
However, Staal ended up getting the last laugh, and not only as the winner. He scored the game-icing empty-net goal in the third period, and he made sure to make the most of it. He sent a pretty clear message by winding up and hammering a slap shot from the slot that went through Phaneuf’s legs for the goal. Staal also made sure to give Phaneuf an extra look as he skated off.
Coincidentally, reports surfaced earlier this season that the Leafs would have interest in Staal, if he became available.
Thumbnail photo via John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
