Hurricanes' Ryan Murphy to miss 4 weeks with leg injury, placed on injured reserve

The Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday announced that defenseman Ryan Murphy, who injured his leg in an awkward play in last Thursday's shootout win over Arizona, will miss four weeks and has been placed on injured reserve. However, the injury will not require surgery and Murphy should recover without any intervention.

Murphy, recalled from Charlotte before the Canes' game in Pittsburgh on New Year's Eve, played in every game following his recall and posted six points in those 15 games while averaging around 18 minutes per game.

The Canes did not announce a corresponding roster move and look set to go with six defenseman on the active roster for now, with Murphy's injury bringing an end to the revolving door of healthy scratches between Brett Bellemore and John-Michael Liles.

The release from the team is below.

CANES PLACE RYAN MURPHY ON INJURED RESERVE

Defenseman suffered a leg injury Thursday against Arizona

Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the Hurricanes defenseman Ryan Murphy has been placed injured reserve. Murphy suffered a leg injury on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes and is expected to be out for four weeks. The injury will not require surgery.

Murphy, 21, has earned one goal and six assists (7 points) in 21 NHL games for the Hurricanes this season. The Aurora, Ont., native has also appeared in 25 American Hockey League (AHL) games with Charlotte, and leads all Charlotte skaters in assists this season with 17. The Hurricanes’ first round selection, 12th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Murphy (5’11", 185 lbs.) has skated in 73 career NHL games with Carolina, totaling 19 points (3g, 16a).