Hurricanes' Jeff Skinner: Dealing with upper-body ailment

Skinner returned to Raleigh on Tuesday to be evaluated for an upper-body injury, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis:

This news effectively rules the 24-year-old winger out of Tuesday's game against the Panthers and leaves him questionable at best for Wednesday's tilt in Tampa Bay. The Hurricanes are safely out of playoff contention at this point in the season, so they'll likely proceed with caution with Skinner's diagnosis and rehab. More information regarding the specific nature of the left-handed sniper's ailment should be released in the coming days.