Family Helps Jordan Staal Recover

Penguins center Jordan Staal’s season thus far has been gutted by freak physical problems — an infection in his right foot, then surgery after his right hand was broken by a puck in practice. But things got better the past week.

He went to North Carolina to visit his oldest brother, Eric, then returned to Pittsburgh in time to see another older brother, Marc, a defenseman for the New York Rangers, play here. He saw Eric again when the Carolina Hurricanes came to town for a game Friday night at Consol Energy Center.

To top it off, Jordan Staal skated on his own before the Penguins’ morning skate Friday.

“He said he didn’t feel the greatest [on the ice], but he doesn’t need to feel great right now,” Eric Staal said. “He’s got to slowly work his way back.”

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said Jordan Staal was instructed not to work out for about two weeks after his Nov. 2 hand surgery.

“We’re pretty happy to get him on the ice,” Bylsma said. “He’s starting to work out now, and he’s in good spirits because he’s heading down the right road.”

And because he had a chance to be around his brothers.

“He’s got to stay positive,” Eric Staal said. “That’s all he can do. That’s what family’s for, and we’ve been doing as best we can to keep him up.

“It was nice to have him at our house for a couple of days. He got to have some fun with my son and spend some time relaxing and refreshing. I think he feels a lot better now.”