Williams returns, goes out

Knee OK, but back injury strikes

WASHINGTON -- Justin Williams' triumphant return to the Carolina Hurricanes lasted less than a period.

Williams was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing 43 games with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he left the 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals with seven minutes to play in the first period after wrenching his back.

He played only 3:48 and is not expected to play tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ray Whitney also was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing 12 games, 17 days after surgery on an infected bursa in his left ankle, and Bret Hedican returned after missing one game with a "torso" injury.

Whitney played 13:21, and Hedican played 22:59 on Carolina's top pairing with Tim Gleason.

The Hurricanes activated Williams and Whitney from injured reserve Tuesday, sending Joe Jensen to Albany (AHL). Jensen scored one goal in five games in his second stint with the Canes this season.

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: The first time Williams tore the ACL in his left knee, back in 2003, he made it back in 10 weeks, well short of the usual four to six months. When he tore the same ligament again on Dec. 20, he was told there was no way he'd be able to recover as quickly this time.

That was right: He was back in 14 weeks, more than three weeks short of the normal four-month recovery period. In 2003, he missed 36 games. This season, he missed 43.

"Attitude is a big thing," Williams said. "I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. You can sit around and mope and cry about it and go that way, or you can try and make yourself better.

"Obviously, it's two tough injuries to the same leg. It's been a drain mentally, and physically, too. But having a good attitude is only going to make it better. That's something you've got to have."

Williams also was fitted with a new brace for the knee. The model he had been using failed -- he was wearing it when he was injured.

STILL HURTING: Even with Williams, Whitney and Hedican back in the lineup Tuesday, the Canes are still missing Matt Cullen (post-concussion symptoms), Patrick Eaves (shoulder surgery), Rod Brind'Amour (knee surgery) and David Tanabe (concussion).

Of that group, only Cullen, who practiced in a no-contact jersey Monday, has a chance to return before the end of the regular season.

PENALTY PROBLEMS: In addition to the controversial calls that didn't go Carolina's way, including two goaltender interference penalties, Trevor Letowski and Jeff Hamilton took double-minors for high-sticking, and Whitney was called twice for hooking.

"Obviously, we didn't play our best game tonight," Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley said. "We didn't do ourselves any favors by taking some undisciplined penalties. When you take a four-minute high-sticking penalty like we did, obviously it hurts.

"In order for us to play our game, we need to stay out of the box and play five-on-five."

The Capitals went 2-for-7 on the power play, the Hurricanes 0-for-4 -- only the fifth time in the past 22 games the opposition has had more power-play opportunities than the Canes. Carolina is 2-2-1 in those games.