Defenseman Tim Gleason may be out a week with a lower-body injury but the Canes could be getting forward Alexander Semin back about the same time.
General manager Jim Rutherford said he had talked to Semin, who suffered a concussion in the Nov. 16 game at St. Louis, and said Semin told him he was feeling better.
"He could be back on the ice the first of next week," Rutherford said Tuesday.
Gleason has a lower-body injury, Canes coach Kirk Muller said. Gleason was a scratch in Sunday's game against Ottawa and was not at practice Tuesday.
The Canes go on the road to face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, then will play the Devils again Friday at PNC Arena. When practice ended Tuesday at Raleigh Center Ice, Muller was not sure if forward Kevin Westgarth would be available.
Westgarth had a disciplinary hearing Tuesday morning with Brendan Shanahan of NHL Players Safety concerning Westgarth's hit Sunday on Sens defenseman Mark Borowiecki. A decision was expected later Tuesday afternoon.
In Tuesday's practice, Muller had Riley Nash centering a line with Elias Lindholm on the right side and Jeff Skinner on the left. That's a switch for Lindholm, who has been at center the past two games.
"He's versatile. He can go center or right wing," Muller said. "They had some chemistry before, too, those three."
The fourth line had Manny Malhotra at center with Drayson Bowman and Radek Dvorak. Westgarth also worked with the line.
The Canes' four goals Sunday against Ottawa matched their season high set Oct. 19 in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Their three second-period goals also matched their season best for a period.
"The four goals are a result of doing all the other things," Muller said. "There have been times lately when we executed but didn't finish the play. That game was a good example that the results are kicking in now and things are being pieced together."
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