Hurricanes activate Eric Staal

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have activated captain Eric Staal from injured reserve.

The team made the announcement Tuesday, about six hours before their game at Vancouver.

Staal suffered an unspecified upper-body injury during the Hurricanes' second game of the season on Oct. 11. He has missed the last five contests. He had one goal and one assist in those two games.

To make room for Staal, the Hurricanes reassigned forward Patrick Brown to their AHL affiliate in Charlotte.