Canes coach Paul Maurice said today that goaltender Cam Ward would begin some skating next week and could return to the lineup at some point this season.
Ward has been sidelined since Feb. 3, when he experienced back pain in the game against the Calgary Flames. He was twice seen a back specialist, but surgery was not required.
"Cam's getting better. We're happy with where he's at," Maurice said. "This guy's not playing a game for us this year unless we're sure he's 100 percent healthy, but our expectation is that he will play for us this year. We just want to make sure he's not coming back at 90 or 95 (percent), regardless of what's going on."
Maurice said Ward, who watched part of the Canes' morning skate, would begin skating, then take shots, then at some point rejoin practice.
"I can't answer how fast that progress will happen," he said. "But we are expecting him back in our net this season."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
I didn't know until
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 13:42 — ctillI didn't know until yesterday that Mike Murphy is injured... explaining why JR would not have been receptive to moving Manny Legace. The well-traveled Mike Morrison has been in goal for Albany.