Justin Peters has made it a threesome of goalies in the workouts this week at Raleigh Center Ice and is blunt when asked about his expectations for this season.

"I'm coming into camp to make the hockey team," Peters said today.

The Canes signed free agent Brian Boucher after the season and said the veteran goalie would be Cam Ward's backup this season. Ward was in net for 74 games last season, a career high and a busy workload the Canes want to lighten.

Where does that leave Peters, the Canes' backup last season? Apparently headed to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), where he will team with Mike Murphy in net.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Canes goaltender Justin Peters has just one victory this season. It came Dec. 15, it came at Florida's BankAtlantic Center and it came in improbable fashion against the Panthers.

Just 1:42 into the game, after the Panthers had jumped to a 2-0 lead, Peters relieved Cam Ward. He allowed a goal to make it 3-0, but had 21 saves as Carolina rallied to win 4-3 — the first time this season the Canes had trailed after two periods and won.

Tonight, Peters is back in net again against the Panthers (18-18-2). He's also had the time to mentally prepare himself for the start.

"I definitely have some good feelings from the last time playing here," Peters said today. "At the same time, that was a little while ago. A lot has happened as a team since then and I'm just excited about tonight and getting in there."

Goaltender Cam Ward missed Monday's road game at Tampa Bay with a skin infection but general manager Jim Rutherford said today he expects Ward back soon. Rutherford said Ward was scheduled to see a dermatologist today.

"We think Cam will be fine in the next day or two," Rutherford said.

Ward had started 10 straight games before Monday, with 45 saves in a 3-2 shootout win Thursday in Atlanta and then 43 stops Saturday as the Canes topped the Anaheim Ducks 4-2.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said Ward had a lot of swelling above an eye during the morning skate in Tampa. Maurice said it was not a rash but an infection.

It was the one play Canes goaltender Justin Peters wanted back, the one that left him a little grim Wednesday after the 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals at the RBC Center.

The Canes and Caps were tied 2-2 in the third period after the Canes rallied out of 2-0 hole. Carolina had killed off a tripping penalty against Jiri Tlusty, then needed to do it again after rookie Jeff Skinner was called for slashing at 12:02.

On the faceoff to begin the Caps' power play, the puck came to Peters, who could have smothered it and forced a whistle. Instead he tried to make a play on it and clear it, took a swat it and knocked it out to the Caps' Alex Ovechkin at the point.

Ovechkin quickly put a shot on net, with Brooks Laich tipping the puck past Peters for what proved to the game-winner at 12:07 of the third.

"We did a real good job fighting back in the third period and unfortunately I let the team down," Peters said.

PITTSBURGH -- Justin Peters and not Cam Ward will be in goal tonight as the Canes play their first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Consol Energy Center.

Ward, after being lifted in losses against the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, responded with a strong game and 23 saves Wednesday against Ottawa as the Canes won 7-1. But coach Paul Maurice said after today's morning skate that he wanted Peters in for the Pens, with Ward to go Saturday against the Nashville Predators at the RBC Center.

"I think he's a good, young player who needs to play games to develop," Maurice said of the decision to start Peters. "We're closing now on the 20-game mark and this will be his third (start), so we certainly have not overworked him."

After a long, strenuous practice Monday at the RBC Center, most of the Canes were ready for some rest time at home later in the day.

Not Brandon Sutter and Justin Peters. They had more work to do -- at the Raleigh Rescue Mission.

Sutter and Peters volunteered to help serve dinner Monday night at the mission, and it was obvious their appearance was appreciated by those they served. More than 60 men and women -- some with small children -- filed through the line for a serving of beef tips, rice, peas, corn and beanie weenies, and many were smiling after having their plates filled.

"We go to the rink for a couple of a hours a day, but especially for us young guys we don't have families to go home to or kids to take care of, if we can come do something like this and give a helping hand to people who need a hand, we're happy to do it," Sutter said.

PHILADELPHIA  — Canes coach Paul Maurice wasn't sure until today's morning skate how his centermen might line up tonight.

Tuomo Ruutu has been bothered by a lower-body concern for a few games. Maurice wanted to take a good look at Ruutu at the skate before making any decisions about tonight's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

But Ruutu was moving well and good to go. He'll again center the line with Jeff Skinner and Erik Cole.

"He feels better today than he has for the week," Maurice said of Ruutu. "Not skating yesterday helped."

The Hurricanes have agreed to terms with goaltender Justin Peters on a two-year contract.

The deal will pay Peters $500,000 on the NHL level or $105,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2010-11, with a guarantee of at least $225,000. In 2011-12, it will pay him $550,000 in the NHL, or $105,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of $250,000.

General manager Jim Rutherford made it official this past week: Justin Peters will be the Canes' No. 2 goalie next season.

Question: is Peters ready to be the No. 2 guy?

Goaltender Cam Ward is coming off the back injury and the Canes surely will look to cut back on his workload. Is Peters at 23 ready to step in and be a solid, reliable backup, or should the Canes have signed veteran Manny Legace as better insurance?

The floor is open.

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that a decision has been made and that the team will go with Justin Peters as the backup to Cam Ward in goal next season.

Rutherford had said either Peters, 23, or veteran Manny Legace would be No. 2 goaltender and that the team would not look to sign or trade for anyone else.

"We've told Manny's agent that we will go with Justin," Rutherford said. "It's the right time for Justin in the process of his development."