Jordan Staal scores twice in Hurricanes' 4-3 victory over Jets

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jordan Staal scored twice and the Carolina Hurricanes beat Winnipeg 4-3 on Friday night in the Jets' first game since learning star goalie Connor Hellebuyck will be sidelined four to six weeks.

Hellebuyck will have arthroscopic surgery for a knee problem dating to training camp. Eric Comrie made 24 saves against the Hurricanes.

Seth Jarvis scored short-handed for Carolina and Andrei Svechnikov added a goal. Backup goalie Brandon Bussi stopped 24 shots. The Hurricanes are 3-0-2 in their last five games, scoring three or more goals in each game.

Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and defenseman Josh Morrissey added a goal for Winnipeg, extending his points streak to seven games.

Staal scored 16 seconds into the game, making a move to get around defenseman Dylan Samberg and firing the puck past Comrie on the stick side.

Morrissey tied it at 3:45, followed by Vilardi’s power-play marker at 9:28 after a Carolina turnover.

Staal notched his second of the game when he got his stick on Jalen Chatfield’s point shot at 3:08 of the second. Jarvis scored his 11th goal the season at 6:31.

Svechnikov stretched the lead to 4-2 three minutes into the third and Vilardi made it a one-goal game 54 seconds later.

The Jets played a video tribute in the first period for Carolina forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who played 674 games for Winnipeg before signing with the Hurricanes in the off-season.

Ehlers sent a no-look pass across the front of the net for Svechnikov, who beat Comrie at 3:19 of the third for a 4-2 cushion.

Hurricanes: At Buffalo on Sunday.

Jets: Host Minnesota on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers (27) passes the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers (27), formerly of the Winnipeg Jets, greets the fans during a tribute to him in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Jets in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' K'Andre Miller (19) defends against Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) and Mark Scheifele (55) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Vladislav Namestnikov (7) and Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) battle along the boards during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28), Jordan Staal (11) and Jordan Martinook (48) celebrate after Staal's goal against the Winnipeg Jets during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

A new era in international soccer begins Sunday when Vanuatu United meets Bula FC of Fiji in Auckland, New Zealand, in the first game of the Oceania Football Confederation Pro League.

Eight teams from seven countries in the region — the others are New Zealand, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia — will play at least 17 games over the next three months.

Organizers say the new league is a much-needed step for the region, where individual countries are too small to support top-level domestic competitions.

“The OFC was the only confederation to not have a professional league in any of its member associations, something of a restriction in player advancement opportunities,” Stuart Larman, the league’s project manager, told The Associated Press.

“Players from the OFC will now have a significant increase in highly competitive matches per year,” Larman added. “This will be the start point where the best players in the region will become familiar with a professional football environment as they progress in their careers.”

The league will be split into two phases. In the first, each team faces the other seven twice over five rounds. The first is hosted in New Zealand and then matches move to Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

After 14 games, the eight teams will split into two groups which will be played in New Zealand. The top three from the upper group and a playoff winner will advance to the semifinals which will also be held in New Zealand.

The league will also determine which team represents Oceania at the next FIFA Club World Cup in 2029 and which will bring substantial financial rewards.

Auckland City represented Oceania in last year’s Club World Cup and was paid an entry fee of $3.58 million by FIFA with the chance to earn more from results bonuses.

Auckland caused a major stir in the tournament when the New Zealand side of mostly amateur players drew with high-profile Argentine club Boca Juniors.

Playing regular soccer will also help raise standards around Oceania and provide more professional pathways for young players.

“Technically, the boys (in New Zealand) are very gifted,” said Rob Sherman, head coach of South Island United, an Auckland-based OFC Pro League team. “There’s definitely a mass of talent in the region. Hopefully playing at a different standard than domestically will accelerate and expose that talent.”

There is much to be done off the field, too. Small populations mean limited broadcasting and sponsorship revenue but pooling those resources could make a difference. If so, more clubs from other islands could join.

“Over time it would be a major step to see the league expand from the existing eight clubs,” Larman said. “That will require a lot of things to fall into place at the existing clubs, as well as those hoping to join. As we move forward, we will be working hard with the clubs to ensure they build on the foundations they have to ensure they are well structured off the pitch, which will be reflected on the pitch as well.”

The OFC Pro League could serve as an example for others. A new Baltic League involving Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia is being discussed to help teams grow and compete in wider European competitions. Similar discussions have taken place among Southeast Asian nations.

“In countries where it is hard to sustain a professional football league, the cross-border option should always be one to explore,” Larman said. “The commercial and sporting benefits will help bridge the gap that exists with leading leagues in any region.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)