Ankle injury keeps Canes' Ladd off ice

Laviolette hopes more rest is the cure

RALEIGH -- Carolina Hurricanes left wing Andrew Ladd is not expected to practice for at least four days and could be sidelined another week before the team allows him another chance to test his injured right ankle on the ice.

"It just doesn't appear to be getting better," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "We'll give it some time, and maybe that will help the [healing] process along."

Ladd, 21, twisted the ankle late in Carolina's 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Oct. 6. He has not played a game since then and re-aggravated the injury in practice on Oct. 18.

The Hurricanes (7-2-3) hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference; their next test will be Wednesday night at Florida.

Ladd is trying to maintain his fitness on an exercise bicycle and in the weight room.

"It's not worth pushing it, especially with the way things are going," Ladd said Monday. "So we'll take our time and make sure I can come back 100 percent and play the way I was playing before."

Defenseman Niclas Wallin (groin) did not travel with the team for Saturday's 8-3 victory over the New York Islanders but worked out with team trainers Monday morning. He could be ready to practice again with the team today if he feels OK, Laviolette said.

BRIND'AMOUR EARNS NHL HONOR: Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour earned Second Star of the week honors from the NHL after leading all scorers with nine points on five goals and four assists, including a hat trick and an assist Saturday.

Brind'Amour entered Monday night tied with Toronto's Mats Sundin for the second-most points in the league with 18 (six goals, 12 assists). Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg is tops with 21 points.

Three other Hurricanes entered Monday night ranked among the NHL's top 20 scorers: Justin Williams ranked fifth (five goals and 11 assists); Eric Staal ranked sixth (nine goals and six assists); and Cory Stillman, who had missed three games recuperating from a car accident, ranked 20th (four goals and nine assists).

"We've got three or four lines that can score. It makes a difference," Staal said. "That makes it hard for teams to matchup defensive pairings. That's what we want: a lot of guys in the top of the league in scoring."

NO FAUX-HAWK FOR ADAMS: Give Hurricanes forward Craig Adams credit for committing to his costume.

Adams had his hair shaved into a mohawk and went to a Sunday night Halloween party as Maddox Jolie -- actress Angelina Jolie's adopted son. The getup was a bold choice, but it did not win the Best Costume prize, Adams said.

"It's not too bad for skating around the rink," Adams said. "But walking around the mall might be different."