Conboy reassigned; Bowman to play

The roster shuffling continued today for the Canes, who reassigned Tim Conboy to Albany (AHL) while calling up forward Jerome Samson.

Drayson Bowman, who scored his first two NHL goals Tuesday against Tampa Bay, was a healthy scratch Thursday for the Montreal game. Bowman will be back in the lineup Saturday against the Boston Bruins.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said concerns about the health of his defensemen led to the callups Thursday of Conboy and Casey Borer from the River Rats. With more than 20 players available, Maurice said, Bowman automatically came out of the lineup.

"We were concerned if we dressed six (defensemen) we might have three in a short period of time, so felt we needed seven in the lineup," Maurice said. "In order to do that, then a forward has to come out and you only have one choice: whoever is the last guy up on emergency recall is the first guy out and there's no options with that."

Bowman was designated the emergency recall when Tuomo Ruutu needed shoulder surgery, Maurice said.

Maurice said Cam Ward would start the final game in goal for the Canes. Ward had 30 saves in the 5-2 win Thursday over the Habs and will be making his sixth start since returning from a back injury.

"We need to see how he responds," Maurice said. "He hasn't played many (games) this year. It will be good for Cam to play."

The players to be sent to Albany after Saturday's game for the AHL playoffs, Maurice said, will be: forwards Bowman and Zach Boychuk, and defensemen Jamie McBain, Bryan Rodney, Casey Borer and Jay Harrison.