(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes say goalie Cam Ward will miss six to eight weeks with a sprained knee ligament.

The team announced Ward's diagnosis Monday and said the former All-Star goalie will not require surgery.

The team says Ward suffered a third-degree sprain to his medial collateral ligament midway through the second period of Sunday night's 3-2 win at Florida.

He hurt his left knee when teammate Justin Faulk slid into him while the defenceman tried to stop Florida's Jack Skille from skating toward the net.

The team-issued timeline places Ward's potential return in mid- to late-April. The regular season ends April 27.

The injury makes backup Dan Ellis the team's No. 1 goalie. Ellis is 3-2-1 with a 2.53 goals-against average in his first season in Carolina.

I'm so pissed I have him on my fantasy team, everyone on my team got hurt this year, no joke lol.

That's that for a successful condensed season for the 'Canes. 6-8 Weeks for Cam? That's 6-8 weeks of L's...*smGDh*

Ellis has been playing well as a back-up but I have my doubts if he can step it up as a starter. Might be a trade looming for the Canes to acquire a starting goalie.

Absolutely. Not trying to take anything away from Ellis but...with Mr. Ward gone they're probably looking at a .500 hockey club, this condensed season. Which is a GDamn shame...