Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu activated from injured reserve

Ruutu was placed on IR on Sept. 29 after suffering a lower-body injury during the preseason that kept him out of the Hurricanes’ final two exhibition games and the first five games of the regular season. The problem was reportedly not related to the hip injury that sidelined him for most of the 2013 season. Carolina will ease him back into the lineup, starting him on the fourth line in place of Kevin Westgarth. Ruutu also plays on the power play, but look for those shifts to be limited as well.

Ruutu scored four goals and registered five assists last season in only 17 games. Carolina signed him to a four-year contract extension in 2012 worth $19 million.

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