Peters gets the call; Rats welcome Mior

Goaltender Justin Peters today was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Albany River Rats signed netminder Ryan Mior to a professional tryout contract.

Cam Ward of the Canes is suffering from chronic back problems and will be out for at least a few weeks, possibly longer. 

Veteran Mike Morrison will assume starting duties for the Rats. 

Peters will return to Carolina having registered a 1.51 GAA, .950 SV% and two victories in his first two NHL starts earlier this month. Peters should see more playing time on this recall and may compete to become the go-to goalie as Ward remains sidelined. 

In 41 games with Albany this season, Peters has a 2.60 GAA, .915 SV%, one shutout and a record of 26-16-2-1.

Backing up Mike Morrison for the Rats will be youngster Ryan Mior, a 22-year-old second-year pro who has been spending the season with the Dayton Gems of the International Hockey League. 

In 26 games this year with the Gems, Mior has a .899 SV%, 3.23 GAA, one shutout and a record of 11-11-2-1.  

Mior played with the Rochester Americans earlier this season on a tryout contract and put up decent numbers during his first seven AHL appearances, earning a 3.03 GAA, .907 SV% and a record of 3-4-0-0. 

Mior's most impressive performance came on December 26 when the netminder overcame a shot differential of 47 to 23 to lead Rochester to a 4-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Mior, a native of St. John's, Newfoundland, spent his junior years in the QMJHL with the Prince Edward Island Rocket and Gatineau Olympiques before kicking off his professional career last season in the Central Hockey League with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Mior finished 2008-09 with the Port Huron IceHawks of the IHL, putting up a 1.94 GAA, .925 SV%, four shutouts and a record of 11-3-2-3. 

Catch video on YouTube of an interview with Mior taped in December in Rochester.

Michael Leighton put on waivers

The Carolina Hurricanes today placed back-up goaltender Michael Leighton on waivers. 

Leighton, a former starter for the Rats, could be snatched up by another team at half price or reassigned to Albany should he go unclaimed. 

The Hurricanes signed veteran goalie Manny Legace earlier in the season after Cam Ward was injured. With Ward expected to return December 9, the Canes have a surplus of netminders.

Legace was favored over Leighton from the start and the vet outperformed the younger goaltender in the handful of games they split.

Leighton, 28, in the final year of his contract with Carolina, was hoping to find a starting job in the NHL next season, but the chances of that happening now are slim to none. 

In seven games with the Hurricanes this season, Leighton has a less than impressive 4.28 GAA and a .850 SV%. 

In 19 NHL games last season Leighton registered a decent 2.92 GAA and a .901 SV%. 

With the River Rats in 2007-08, Leighton recorded seven shutouts, a 2.10 GAA and a .931 SV% after 58 games.

If Leighton is reassigned to Albany, he would likely share time or serve as a back-up to Justin Peters, while rookie Mike Murphy could be sent to the ECHL for extra playing time.

UPDATE: Leighton cleared waivers today (12/8) at noon.

News & Notes

• Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union catches up with injured defenseman Casey Borer, who recently returned to Albany and started skating for the first time since having neck surgery in September. 

• Forward Rob Hennigar, who was recently recalled from the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, chats with Chris Fitz Gerald at the Troy Record about his new role as a member of the Albany River Rats. 

• Goaltender Justin Peters talks with Bill Cain of the Schenectady Daily Gazette about his time with the Canes and his desire to stay focused and prepared for any and all opportunities.  

• Center Harrison Reed, who was reassigned to the Florida Everblades on November 24, earned ECHL player of the week honors after scoring seven goals and five assists in four games with the Blades.

• Hurricanes' General Manager Jim Rutherford has expressed interest in "transitioning" his team. "If we could [move contracts out], we would probably move a handful of guys out today and move the younger guys in, even if they weren't ready," Rutherford told Tracking the Storm. The process is easier said than done. 

• Hurricanes' goaltender Cam Ward, who was cut by a skate blade on November 7, returned to practice this week and is hoping to play in net against New Jersey on December 9th. Barring any more injuries, the Canes will soon have three healthy netminders. Veteran goalie Manny Legace, who was signed to a two-way deal after Ward went down, could be reassigned to Albany. 

• Cory Lavalette at Canes Country has a bit more on the latest addition to the Rats' squad, Jiri Tlusty.

• Who is the funniest River Rat? Watch the latest installment of Murphy's Mailbag and find out. 

Rodney returns, again

The Carolina Hurricanes today reassigned defenseman Bryan Rodney to the River Rats. 

Rodney was recalled for the second time this season on November 25th. He played one game this time around, registering over 20 minutes of ice-time, four shots on goal and an even plus/minus rating. 

Rodney was filling in for injured Canes' D-man Joni Pitkanen, who is expected to be back in the line-up tonight.

Albany captain Pat Dwyer remains in Raleigh, as forward Chad LaRose has been sidelined with a lower-body injury. 

Forward Scott Walker, who has been out with an upper-body injury since November 15, participated today at the team's morning skate. Goaltender Cam Ward was also briefly on the ice.

Canes recall Pat Dwyer

The injury-plagued Carolina Hurricanes today recalled Albany's respected captain and top goal-scorer Pat Dwyer.

Dwyer will likely remain with the Canes until star forward Eric Staal recovers from an upper-body injury. Coach Paul Maurice told the Raleigh News & Observer that Staal may return as early as next week. 

In similar news, goaltender Justin Peters will remain with Carolina for an indefinite amount of time. Canes' netminder Michael Leighton, who suffered a groin injury on Tuesday, is listed as "week-to-week." Top goalie Cam Ward, who was cut by a skate blade on November 7, is hoping to return to action on December 5th.  

The Hurricanes play tonight at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Canes sign Manny Legace

With goaltender Cam Ward expected to miss significant time with a lacerated leg, the Carolina Hurricanes today signed veteran netminder Manny Legace to a two-way, one-year deal. 

That means Rats' starter Justin Peters will be sticking around, at least for now.

The Canes would rather bring in Legace than put all the weight on two goalies with limited experience. Justin Peters, along with Michael Leighton, both lack time in the NHL, whereas Legace is a battle-tested goalie with more than 15 years of professional play under his belt. 

Still, if Legace does not perform, Peters will be waiting on deck. 

Where Legace lands when Ward returns is anyone's guess. 

Cam Ward injured (UPDATE)

Justin Peters will likely be getting a call from the boys in Raleigh. 

Netminder Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes was cut badly by a skate blade last night in a contest against the Columbus Bluejackets. The laceration required stitches and Ward was hospitalized overnight after losing a significant amount of blood.

Justin Peters will likely be recalled to back up Michael Leighton for the Hurricanes' next game on Wednesday.

As for Albany, Mike Murphy will take charge of the Rats' crease and Mike Morrison will likely be called up from the ECHL for backup. 

The Rats' next game is Wednesday at Syracuse. 

UPDATE: Cam Ward is expected to be out for three to four weeks. The Hurricanes are considering several options, including a trade or a new signing. Chip Alexander speculates that Carolina may pick up veteran goaltender Manny Legace, who is currently playing for the Chicago Wolves.