ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward will miss three to four weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury early in the first period of a game Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.
Ward stretched to make a save on Minnesota's Mikael Granlund a little more than four minutes into a scoreless game when the injury occurred. Play continued for about 15 seconds before the next whistle, when Ward skated to the bench and down the tunnel to the Carolina dressing room.
Ward missed most of last season after suffering a knee injury in March.
Justin Peters entered the game in place of Ward and allowed goals on the first two shots he faced in his first NHL action of the season. Carolina's regular backup, Anton Khudobin, is out with a lower-body injury suffered on Oct. 13 and has yet to resume skating; Peters was recalled from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League when Khudobin was hurt.
"This is his opportunity, and he's got to find a way to get the job done," coach Kirk Muller said after his team's 3-1 loss.
With both Ward and Khudobin out, the Hurricanes announced they have called up Mike Murphy from Charlotte. Murphy is 1-2-0 with a 3.81 goals-against average in three games with the Checkers this season. He is expected to join the team in Denver for Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche.