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‘Canes get goalie help, activate Ellis from IR

Dan Ellis

Dan Ellis #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes plays in goal against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center on January 25, 2013 in Buffalo, New York.Carolina won 3-1. (January 24, 2013 - Source: Rick Stewart/Getty Images North America)

Carolina’s muddled goaltending situation got a tad clearer on Monday as the club announced it activated Dan Ellis (leg) from injured reserve.

Ellis, 31, suffered a skate laceration late in the third period of a 4-1 loss to New Jersey on Mar. 21.

He’s been out of action ever since, forcing the ‘Canes to play their third-string goalie, Justin Peters (starter Cam Ward was lost for the regular season in early March.)

Peters’ run hasn’t been great.

While he did record a much-needed victory over Winnipeg on Saturday -- snapping Carolina’s seven-game losing streak in the process -- his numbers on the year leave something to be desired: 3-4-0, 2.86 GAA, .911 save percentage.

Following a 6-3 loss to Toronto on Thursday, ‘Canes head coach Kirk Muller was highly critical of Peters’ play.

“The bottom line is this: we didn’t get the saves,” Muller told NHL.com. “We didn’t get the saves at the right time and it cost us.”

To be fair to all parties involved, this rash of injuries has been difficult to handle, thoroughly testing Carolina’s organizational depth.

The Ellis injury so depleted the goaltending position that John Muse -- Peters’ backup in AHL Charlotte -- was summoned to dress for the last three games.

According to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer, Peters will get the start tonight in Montreal, with Ellis serving as his backup.