Gleason likely to miss Avs game

DENVER -- Defenseman Tom Gleason likely will miss the Canes' game Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, coach Paul Maurice said today. Gleason suffered an upper-body injury in the second period of the Canes' 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Wednesday night. He was the only player not to practice today at the Pepsi Center. "It's day to day but I'm not optimistic for tomorrow," Maurice said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow (but) it's probably better than we originally thought after the game. He came in better today." Maurice said Jay Harrison would take Gleason's spot in the lineup. While Maurice had said he would like to give backup goaltender Michael Leighton his first start of the season on this trip, he said Cam Ward would start against the Avs. A decision then will be made for Saturday's game at the Minnesota Wild. The Canes fell to 2-4-2 and 0-3-1 on the road this season with the shootout loss...