Eric Staal's brother says his hit was not problem

Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice and captain Eric Staal do not think that Staal's check on his brother Marc last Feb. 22 caused the concussion that has kept the Rangers defenseman off the ice this season.

"It was a clean hit, and his brother came back and played," Maurice said before Friday night's game. "To me, he's not the reason there's a concussion."

"There were a lot of steps that happened after that hit that probably put him in the position that he's in now," he said. "I don't think it's just that hit. It's not like I hit him and he's been done since that point. He played and came back. Now he's healing and on the right track to getting back."

During the summer, Marc Staal began experiencing headaches during workouts; both he and coach John Tortorella have said a concussion from his brother's hit has caused the headaches.

Staal, who has been seeing concussion specialists, received acupuncture and a cortisone shot, missed two games following the check, which rocked him backward and his head bounced off the ice. He injured his knee earlier in that game, but played all but three other games the remainder of the season and five playoff games. There is no timetable for his return.

Said Brandon Dubinsky: "I have two brothers myself. I don't think there was any malicious intent. I don't, though, think it was the cleanest hit."

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