Hurricanes' Hann getting better after suffering eye injury

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Calvin de Haan was recovering Tuesday after suffering an injury to his right eye during Monday's game against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. The 27-year-old de Haan was injured when he was struck by the blade of the stick of Colorado's Alex Kerfoot on the follow-through of a shot near the Hurricanes' goal.

The blow bloodied de Haan's right eye and he crumbled to the ice. He was eventually able to skate off the ice and was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. "Calvin sustained an injury to his right eye last night, but was released from the hospital in time to make the flight home with the team," general manager Don Waddell said in a statement on Tuesday. "At this point, his eye is responding as we would hope. We are optimistic that he will make a normal recovery without restrictions to his ability to play hockey in the near future."

There is no definitive timetable for de Haan's return. He has 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 67 games this season. Carolina's next game is Friday at the Columbus Blue Jackets. De Haan is in his first season with Carolina after playing five-plus seasons with the New York Islanders. He has 13 goals and 82 assists in 371 career games.