Jordan Staal scored just over 13 minutes into regulation and added a late assist as Carolina beat the Mammoth 4-1 on Saturday, giving the 37-year-old another productive night with the season winding down.
Staal finished with a goal, an assist, four shots on net and two blocked shots. He also picked up a secondary assist on Sean Walker's empty-net goal in the final seconds, a final touch that helped put the game out of reach.
The performance lifted Staal to 20 goals and 36 points in 75 games this season. He also has 107 shots on net, 166 hits and 48 blocked shots, numbers that underline the range of his game as Carolina closes in on the finish line.
Carolina has two games remaining on its regular-season schedule, and Staal is now two points shy of matching his highest point total across his last eight regular seasons. He has eight points in his last 11 games, and he has matched or surpassed his season totals from a year ago in most major stat categories.
For a player who has spent the season doing a bit of everything, Saturday fit the pattern. Staal supplied offense early, helped set up the final goal late and kept adding the kind of details that have made him a steady presence for Carolina all year.
