Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that the doctors treating Cam Ward's back injury want to observe him for a couple of weeks before making a decision on how to best move forward.
"After a couple of weeks they'll have a better understanding of his condition," Rutherford said. "They'd like to see how it settles down, then go from there."
Rutherford said surgery could "not be ruled in or ruled out."
Ward began experiencing back pain in the Canes' game Wednesday in Calgary. His back tightened up Thursday during the team flight to Buffalo, and Ward left the team Friday to return to Raleigh.
Ward has been slowed by back spasms in the last year, including the Eastern Conference finals during the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, but Rutherford has said this was a different kind of back injury.
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No one has worn No. 3 for the Carolina Hurricanes since Steve Chiasson died on his way home from a season-ending party in 1999. But Chiasson's son wears the number as a defenseman at the University of Michigan. 
Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller finally will move into his house in Raleigh this week, having spent the past few months in an apartment. 
Ryan O'Reilly scored on a slap shot with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime and Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped a season-high 39 shots in the Colorado Avalanche's 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. 
Ryan O'Reilly scored on a slap shot with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime and Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped a season-high 39 shots in the Colorado Avalanche's 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. 
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Thursday he has met with forward Tuomo Ruutu to discuss Ruutu's future with the team, and said a decision should be reached next week. 
Anthony Stewart is still a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. 
Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes won the Calder Trophy last year as the NHL's best rookie. 
The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Anthony Stewart to a two-year free-agent contract after last season, hoping he could help make up for the loss of Erik Cole. 
Jeff Skinner's hard-working goal barely three minutes into the third period pushed the Carolina Hurricanes ahead, and they held on for the 2-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 18,680. 
Jeff Skinner's goal early in the third period was the difference as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied Saturday to top the L.A. Kings 2-1 at the RBC Center. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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