Jordan Staal blames 1 player for the loss in Game 1.

The Carolina Hurricanes have arguably been the biggest surprise of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far and there is almost no doubt that no matter what happens from now on they have greatly exceeded the expectations of their organization and their fan base. 

That being said the Hurricanes had a disappointing performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final and it seems like it may be getting in the head of at least one of their players. Following the tough loss former Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was quick to criticize one Hurricanes player in particular for the loss, himself. Staal took a bad penalty in the game that would eventually lead to a goal for their opponents in the Eastern Conference Final, the Boston Bruins.

"I’m having a tough time putting it behind me," said Staal as per Sportsnet. "If we kill it off and go on to win the game, it is what it is, but they get a big goal out of it and get the momentum and obviously take over the game, win the game.

It is not hard to see why Staal would shift so much of the blame onto his own shoulders for the loss. His penalty was one of the easiest calls of the game for the National Hockey League officials out on the ice and it would eventually lead to a goal from Bruins forward Marcus Johansson. It was a deflating penalty and an even more deflating goal for the Hurricanes, and it is a moment that Staal admits he has struggled to move past.

"I’ve been trying to let it go."

"I know I’ve got to stick with my game and playing physical," he said.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rob Brind'Amour says that it is exactly that level of emotional investment that makes Staal the player that he is. While I have no doubt that is indeed the truth, you have to wonder if it might not be a concern that Staal could get into his own head here.

"That’s what makes him such a special player and what hurts him, it’s actually that he cares too much," said Brind’Amour. "You really can’t care too much, but he does. Like he’ll take a shift that everyone else won’t even think about, that looks normal, that he thinks was bad and it eats him up.

Even after admitting that he needs to move on, Staal still seems to be struggling to let it go.

"It wasn’t my greatest play in these playoffs," said Staal. "I didn’t let up as much as I could. I ran in to him and he was in an awkward spot."