Hurricanes G Cam Ward out 6-8 weeks with sprained knee ligament

Carolina Hurricanes' Tim Gleason (6) and referee Rob Martell (26) talk to goalie Cam Ward (30) after an injury during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 3, 2013, in Sunrise, Fla. Ward was helped off the ice and did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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.

The team then called up Justin Peters from Charlotte of the AHL to serve as Ellis' backup. Peters is 11-11-3 with a 3.23 GAA in 28 career NHL games during the previous three seasons.