The Canes were back on the ice at the RBC Center today for the first time since Oct. 13, putting in a practice, getting in some good work.

The Canes got back to Raleigh about 5 a.m. Sunday after a 4-3 overtime victory Saturday night over the Phoenix Coyotes that ended an 11-day, five-game road trip.

"It was nice to get back home. I got a couple of hours of sleep before the sun came in and woke me up," forward Patrick Dwyer said. "It was good to get back with the family and see the kids and the wife after being away for so long."

Patrick Dwyer had 'em booing in Toronto.

Not long after Dwyer tipped in Joni Pitkanen's shot with 4:26 left Tuesday night to give
the Canes a 3-2 lead over the Maple Leafs, the booing began in the Air Canada Centre as the home fans expressed their displeasure. There were a couple of excited fans in the house, however — Dwyer's parents, who came from Wisconsin to see the game, to see their son play.

It was Dwyer's fourth career NHL goal. It also proved to be his first game-winner as the Canes won 4-2, making it a very special evening for Dwyer, who began the season with the Albany River Rats (AHL) but has played 21 games for the Canes.

"You know you're only going to get so many shots to make an impact," Dwyer said. "You've got to make a good impression when you do get a shot.Right now I feel like I'm playing pretty well and I'm happy with the way it's going."

RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes hung on for a 3-2 win over Florida Panthers at the RBC Center Saturday.

With defenseman Niclas Wallin injured and a forward spot open, the Hurricanes recalled defenseman Bryan Rodney and forward Patrick Dwyer from the Albany River Rats Tuesday.

Rodney, 25, has been back and forth between Albany and Raleigh this season. In six games with the Hurricanes, he has two assists. In 20 games in the AHL, he has two goals and seven assists.

This season, Dwyer, 26, has played in eight games with the Hurricanes and 23 with the River Rats. He has 11 goals and 19 points for Albany.

Dwyer apparently was brought back because Jiri Tlusty, whom the Hurricanes traded for early this month, has immigration issues preventing his return.

Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said Tlusty probably won't be available for a four- or five-day period because of the time it takes for him to get a visa. Here's a story from the Albany Times-Union with more on Tlusty's visa issues.

The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman Joe Corvo on injured reserve Tuesday.

He's expected to miss 8-12 weeks after his lower right leg was slashed
by the skate of Washington defenseman Karl Alzner in a collision along
the boards in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Capitals.

The Hurricanes trimmed their roster by another two this morning.

With the team preparing for tonight's home preseason game (Atlanta Thrashers, 7 p.m., 99.9 FM The Fan), forwards Zach Boychuk and Patrick Dwyer were assigned to the Canes' American Hockey League affiliate in Albany, N.Y.

With Carolina opening the regular season on Oct. 2 at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, that reduces their training camp roster to 25.

For NHL rookies, memories are made of this ...

For the Canes' Dwight Helminen, it was scoring his first NHL goal and notching his first assist in Carolina's 6-4 victory Sunday over the Maple Leafs. For Patrick Dwyer, it was getting more than 14 minutes of ice time in his NHL debut and being a part of the comeback win. ...

"It's amazing," Dwyer said. "It's something you dream about as a kid, and then to get out there and actually do it is an amazing feeling."