WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

Justin Williams to miss significant time with broken hand

By Adam Harris

Feb 16, 2009

Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams broke his hand in Buffalo on Sunday night.  'Canes head coach Paul Maurice broke the news to 99.9 FM The Fan, talking with The Insiders on Monday afternoon. 

Williams left Sunday's win against the Sabres in the first period after being struck by a shot from teammate Anton Babchuk. 

"He broke his hand," Maurice told The Insiders.  "So he's looking at four weeks anyway." 

The 'Canes coach added, "He was just devastated by it."

The Carolina Hurricanes list Williams as out for at least one month.  Michael Ryan was called up from the Albany River Rats of the AHL early Monday evening to fill the roster spot at forward vacated by Williams' injury.

Williams has already missed 25 games this season after spending nearly the first two months of the 2008-09 campaign recovering from a torn achilles suffered in pre-season workouts. 

The rehab work on William's torn achilles was quicker than expected this year, as he missed only 25 games while team doctors anticipated he may be out for most of the season.

The 2007-08 season saw the 'Canes right wing, then 26 years old, miss 43 games with a torn ACL and two games with a back injury.

Williams has ten points in 32 games this season for the Hurricanes; seven assists and three goals.

 

Follow the link on this page to hear The Insiders entire interview with Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice