For Eric Staal, it will be a very familiar drive to PNC Arena for Thursday night’s game against his old club.
Staal, who spent 12 years with the Hurricanes before his trade to the Rangers a month ago, has been staying with his wife and three sons at his house in Raleigh since Monday night.
“It’ll be the same routine as for a home game,” Staal said Tuesday. “Just gotta make sure I turn left to the other locker room.”
The Rangers gave Staal permission to fly ahead to reconnect with his wife and three young sons and skip practice Wednesday before what he said will be an emotional return.