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Staal ready for season debut as 'Canes host Habs

Dec 29, 2014 - 4:00 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes expect to have forward Jordan Staal in the lineup for the first time this season on Monday evening as they take on the Montreal Canadiens.

Staal has missed the Hurricanes' first 35 games after suffering a broken right fibula in the club's second preseason game. He finally returned to the ice in early December and Carolina coach Bill Peters said on Sunday that he would be "shocked" if Staal did not play tonight.

The 26-year-old Staal is set to finally kick off his third campaign with the Hurricanes since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and he posted 15 goals with 25 assists in 82 games last season.

"The first bit is always tough, watching your team when you're out, especially right at the beginning of the season when you don't get in a game," Staal said on Carolina's website. "The initial shock sucks, but then it's just putting your mind to getting back and focusing on that."

Carolina's offense could certainly use the former first-round pick as the club ranks 29th out of 30 teams with just 2.00 goals per game. The Hurricanes have scored more than two goals only once in their last 13 games, so it comes as no surprise that they have lost nine of 11.

The 'Canes were held under that mark again on Saturday, losing 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrej Sekera had the goal and Cam Ward took another tough-luck loss despite 36 saves.

"You have to score to win and we just having a hard time generating enough offense to win," Carolina forward Eric Staal said. "Against good teams it's that one play or one goal that you need. For us, it's tough finding that."

Ward has a solid 2.42 goals against average and .913 save percentage in 24 games this season, but is just 9-13-2. He is 15-9-3 in his career versus Montreal with a 2.80 GAA and .910 save percentage.

The Canadiens play the second of five straight on the road tonight and are in action for the first time since a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders last Tuesday.

Carey Price ended with 37 saves, while Andrei Markov and Brendan Gallagher had second-period goals to erase a slow start for the club. David Desharnais added a third-period marker to seal the outcome.

"We didn't change anything system-wise," said Gallagher. "I think we just started competing better."

Markov, playing in his 800th career game, extended his point streak to five straight games while helping lead the Habs to their fifth victory in six games. The defenseman has a pair of goals and four assists over his run.

Montreal will visit the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and Price is expected to start tonight. He is 11-5-2 with a 2.27 GAA and .930 save percentage in his career versus Carolina.

The Canadiens have won three straight over the Hurricanes and are 6-0-1 in the previous seven meetings.