‘Canes netminder Ward out six to eight weeks with MCL sprain

Raleigh, NC, United States (4E Sports) – Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward will be out six to eight weeks after sustaining a third-degree sprain of the medial collateral ligament in a knee against the Florida Panthers Sunday.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the injury requires no surgery but will sideline Ward until the end of the regular season.

Ward suffered the injury during a collision with Panthers forward Jack Skille with more than 11 minutes left in the second period of the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win, Rutherford said.

Skille was driving to the net and was tied up by defenseman Justin Faulk, sending Skille and Faulk sliding into Ward’s left leg.

Ward is 9-6-1 with a 2.84 goals-against average and .908 save percentage this season.

Rutherford said the team will recall goalie Justin Peters from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL to back up Dan Ellis.

Ward started for the Canes on Saturday in the first of the home-and-home Southeast Division series with the Panthers. The Canes won 6-2, and backup goalie Ellis was scheduled to start the second game in Sunrise, Florida.

However, Ellis did not feel well before the Sunday game, forcing Ward into action. After the collision, Ward remained in the game but soon needed to be helped off the ice with 11:04 left in the second period.

Ellis stopped 19 of 21 shots in relief. He has a 3-2-0 record this season with a 2.53 goals-against average.

Peters is 22-12-1 with the Checkers with a 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage. He has six shutouts.

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