It's struggling Canes vs struggling Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Despite all the commotion over Tuomo Ruutu's three-game suspension, the Hurricanes do have a game to play tonight against the Wild.

Cam Ward will again be in goal, coach Paul Maurice said. Maurice had hoped to give backup Michael Leighton his first start during this three-game trip but will go with Ward after the 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders and the 5-4 loss to the Avalanche.

"The reason is this — he's playing well, No. 1," Maurice said. "So it's not a matter of switching a goaltender to make a change.

"Secondly, we need to win. We need the group that's in there with a sense of urgency, to have that feeling that we want to get out of this. And Cam gives us the best chance to do that right now."

Maurice said the Canes would prefer to work Leighton in more and give him some meaningful playing time.

"But based on our start I don't think we have that luxury," Maurice said.

Brandon Sutter, called up from Albany (AHL), likely will center the third line tonight, with Jussi Jokinen moving to the wing. Jokinen was centering Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov against the Avs before Ruutu left the game. Ruutu had a goal and assist in the first period as the Canes took a 2-0 lead.

The Canes (2-5-2) go into tonight's game without Ruutu, Erik Cole and defenseman Tim Gleason and they seek their first road win of the season.

"Those things almost always go together -- you're struggling and you have key members out of your lineup," Maurice said. "But we have to find the balance in our game. We've searched for offense, maybe to a fault.

"It can't be generated at all costs, where we're pinching up in the neutral zone and trying to create things that are not there. We're going to have to find a balance and a simplicity in our game."

The Wild have struggled even more than the struggling Canes, going 2-7-0 and being outscored 30-19. Minnesota also played Friday night, losing 3-1 in St. Louis, tying a franchise record with its seventh straight loss on the road.

"Both teams are searching for something good -- a good feeling," Maurice said.