WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

With Ward out, Canes sign goalie Legace

By Mike Maniscalco

Nov 10, 2009

Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes are adding goaltender Manny Legace to fill in for the injured Cam Ward. The starting goalie suffered a cut to his leg Saturday and it expected to miss at least a month.

Legace, a 36-year-old free agent, had been playing with the AHL's Chicago Wolves in a "professional try-out."

"Whatever they want, I'll do," Legace told 99.9 FM The Fan after Monday's practice. 

"I'll go sell popcorn if they want me to, it doesn't really matter. I'm just glad that I'm here. I'm just going to try to work hard and stop the puck."

Ward was injured Saturday night in Columbus when Rick Nash's skate blade cut Ward's left leg. The injury, while serious, is not thought to be season-ending.

Back-up Michael Leighton is the only other goaltender on the Canes' NHL roster.

Ward returned to Raleigh Monday.

Legace played in the NHL last season with St. Louis. He has also played for the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings.

Legace accepted a camp invitation by the Atlanta Thrashers and was released Sept. 28. Legace was an All-Star in 2008 with the Blues and has a career record of 177-92-36, a goals against of 2.38 and a .912 save percentage.

His one-year deal with the Canes is worth $500,000 at the NHL level, but he can be sent down to the minors later in the season.

The Canes are currently on a 12-game winless slide.