Corvo has surgery to close cut on leg

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joe Corvo is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks after his right leg was cut by a skate and required surgery.

Corvo

The team said Tuesday that Corvo was placed on injured reserve after he injured his leg the night before in a 3-2 loss to Washington.

Corvo's lower right leg was cut by Washington defenseman Karl Alzner's skate during a first-period collision, and he had surgery on Monday night. The Hurricanes say Corvo may miss as much as 12 weeks.

Carolina also sent forward Patrick Dwyer back to their AHL affiliate in Albany. He averaged nearly 11 minutes of ice time in six games, and has one goal in 19 career games with the Hurricanes.

Carolina has lost five straight and has an NHL-worst 15 points.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press