The Carolina Hurricanes were without their captain as they beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night.
Jordan Staal was ruled out ahead of the contest with a lower-body injury by the team.
It is unclear when he suffered the injury, as he logged 14:12 of ice time — just slightly below his season average — during Saturday's 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
After the game, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters that the injury "kind of came up last minute.
"Hopefully it's nothing serious and won't keep him out too long."
Staal, 38, had played in the first six games of Carolina's season, but has yet to record a point.
The veteran centre skated in 75 games last season, collecting 20 goals and 36 points before adding eight goals and 12 points during the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup run, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process.
Carolina brought Staal back on a one-year deal this summer for his 21st NHL season.
