Carolina's Ruutu undergoes shoulder surgery

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu is recovering after season-ending shoulder surgery.

Team officials said Thursday that the physical winger will be out for four-to-five months after having surgery in Cary.

The 27-year-old Ruutu had 14 goals and 21 assists in 54 games. He hurt his right shoulder during a fight with Colorado's Darcy Tucker on Jan. 8 and missed roughly a month before returning and playing through the injury.

Coach Paul Maurice said recently that with the injured shoulder, Ruutu "can't come close to playing the game that he needs to play."