Cam Ward remains in hospital; out 'fairly long period of time' (PuckDaddy)

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Update this morning on Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward(notes), whose left leg was lacerated by the skate of Columbus Blue Jackets star Rick Nash(notes) (video here) last night, via Chip Alexander of the News & Observer: He'll remain in a Columbus hospital for another day, and GM Jim Rutherford is looking for outside help between the pipes.

From Canes Now:

"We'll have to see how it goes," Rutherford said today of Ward's injury and recovery time. "It appears it will be a fairly long period of time."

Rutherford said the Hurricanes are looking at different options: a trade, signing an available goaltender or calling up Justin Peters(notes) from Albany (AHL). "We're talking over the options. We don't have an answer right now," he said.

Ward was expected to return to Raleigh today but Rutherford said he would be kept another day as a precautionary move. "He's stitched up but he has to stay real stable," Rutherford said. "They want to be careful about infections and those things."

Michael Leighton(notes) is a placeholder at best, so acquiring a veteran if Ward's out for a lengthy period of time is imperative if this team's going to contend for a playoff spot this season.

Yeah, we said it: A team 10 points out of the eight seed, mired in a 12-game winless streak, devastated by injuries and that's looked simply terrible for most of the season can still contend in 2009-10. It's a team in the seventh ring of hockey hell right now, but it's also a team that uncorked a 13-1-2 streak back in February under Paul Maurice.

That at least offers a glimmer of hope as the Canes continue to skate out of quicksand.