Hurricanes' Eric Staal on shooting at Phaneuf: 'I knew it was him standing there'

Eric Staal wasn't shy about his animosity towards Dion Phaneuf after Monday's game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The two captains fought during the contest and Staal capped the scoring by putting something extra on an empty-netter slap shot that appeared aimed at Phaneuf. Carolina's captain removed any ambiguity about the play during a post-game interview.

"I knew it was him standing there." Staal said. "I was either putting it in by him or hitting him with a good one."

Staal and Phaneuf can resume their feud when the Hurricanes host the Maple Leafs with a chance to sweep the three-game season series on Feb. 20.