Ward out, Williams may be back

Cam Ward will be out of the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup this week, but Justin Williams could be in it.

Ward injured his groin during Sunday's game against the Anaheim Ducks and left after the first period.

The Canes' starting goaltender is expected to miss games this week against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals, all at the RBC Center.

Williams has not played this season after tearing an Achilles tendon in September just before training camp began. The forward was expected to be out four to six months but has accelerated his rehabilitation.

He began skating with the team a few weeks ago and was medically cleared last week for contact work.

"There is a chance he could play this week," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday. "We have a couple of practices coming up. We'll see how he does in those practices and then determine when he can play."

Williams, who scored 33 goals for the Canes in the 2006-07 season, missed most of last season with a knee injury that required reconstructive surgery.

His return could be a needed boost for a team struggling mightily to score goals.

Michael Leighton took over for Ward in goal against the Ducks with the score 1-1 and was the loser in the Canes' 4-1 defeat. Leighton is 4-4-0 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.

Rutherford said Justin Peters would be called up from the Canes' minor-league affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Peters is 3-7-2 with the River Rats with a 2.79 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

"He's the No. 3 goalie in our organization and has played well," Rutherford said.

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