Rangers’ Eric Staal Finishes Off Great Play With One-Handed Goal

New York Rangers Centre Eric Staal, who was acquired by the team from the Carolina Hurricanes on the trade deadline of February 28, 2016, has not been very productive for the Rangers since then, but he nevertheless managed to score a big opening goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.

Rangers’ Eric Staal Finishes Off Great Play With One-Handed Goal

In the first period, Jesper Fast chipped the puck up to Staal, who knocked it down and quickly found Kevin Hayes with room to skate. Hayes raced down the left sideline and sent a pass to center ice to connect with Staal, who had just enough of a step on Pittsburgh defenseman Trevor Daley that he was able to get out in front, fend off Daley with one arm and and with just one hand on his stick, one-timed it under Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury‘s arm and into the net to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead just 4:19 into the game.

The goal was Staal’s 12th of the season, though just his second in 13 games with the Rangers so far. After three weeks of no scoring, the former Hurricanes captain delivered a spectacular goal.

Staal scored another goal in the second period, but the Rangers (43-24-9) eventually lost to the Penguins (42-25-8) 3-2 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers will next visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, while the Penguins will host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

Caption: CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 27: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes controls the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on December 27, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Hurricanes defeated the Blackhawks 2-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)