Hurricanes place Murphy on injured reserved

Peter Koutroumpis - Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Tuesday that defenseman Ryan Murphy had been placed on injured reserve.

Murphy suffered a lower leg injury last 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 played for the Hurricanes this season, and has also appeared in 25 American Hockey League (AHL) games with the Charlotte Checkers.

He leads all Charlotte skaters in assists this season with 17.

The Hurricanes’ first round selection (12th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Murphy has skated in 73 career NHL games with Carolina, totaling 19 points (3g, 16a).

Additional Notes:

Hurricanes to visit children’s hospitals on Wednesday

The Hurricanes announced the details of the team’s annual children’s hospital visits to take place on Wednesday.

At 1:30 p.m., groups of Hurricanes players will visit REX Hospital, UNC Children’s Hospital, Duke Children’s Hospital and WakeMed Children’s Hospital to spread smiles to patients.

Players will hand out blankets and Hurricanes items, and will take pictures and sign autographs as they visit with patients.

The Hurricanes postponed the visit earlier this season as a precaution due to some NHL players having contracted mumps.

No Hurricanes players have had symptoms of mumps or have been diagnosed with mumps.