Hurricanes netminder Ward out for three to four weeks

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Carolina Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward will be out for a minimum of three to four weeks after his left upper leg was lacerated by an opponent's skate on Saturday, the NHL team said on Sunday.

Ward, who needed stitches, was still in hospital in Columbus, Ohio, but is expected to return to Raleigh on Monday, the Hurricanes said on their website (hurricanes.nhl.com/).

His leg was cut open when he collided with Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash in the first period of the Blue Jackets' 3-2 victory on Saturday.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)