Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed forward Eric Staal on injured reserve and moved goaltender Cam Ward to long-term IR.
Staal hasn't played since November 1 against San Jose when he suffered an upper body injury. He has been considered week-to-week and has missed the team's last seven games.
Before the injury, Staal had appeared in 349 straight regular-season games. He has just three goals and two assists in 13 games this season.
Ward is not expected to play until some time next month after suffering a leg laceration against Columbus on November 7, an injury that required a two-night hospital stay after the skate of the Jackets' Rick Nash cut the goaltender on his upper thigh.
Long-term injured reserve requires a player to sit out 24 days or 10 games. The team is targeting Ward's possible return for December 5 against Vancouver.
The Hurricanes have also recalled forward Patrick Dwyer from their AHL affiliate in Albany. Dwyer has nine goals and six assists in 19 games for Albany this season. He scored his first NHL goal last season while playing 13 games for the Hurricanes.