Andrei Markov cleared for contact; may make early return to Montreal Canadiens’ line-up
The Montreal Canadiens received some good news on Monday, 25 October. Veteran Andrei Markov, who is arguably the best member of the team’s defence corps, may make an early return to the
Habs’ line-up.
Markov was given clearance by the Canadiens’ medical staff to participate in contact drills in practice. The team will wait for the doctors to give Markov full clearance to play before
re-activating him. The native of Voskresensk, Russia may return to action as early as Friday or Saturday.
During the Canadiens’ impressive post-season run in the 2009-10 season, Markov was injured after he was checked into the board by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He suffered a torn
anterior cruciate ligament as a result, which kept him out of the action for the rest of the playoffs. He also missed the Habs’ pre-season training camp and games, and the start of the 2010-11 regular season. Markov resumed skating a few weeks prior, but had
not been cleared for full-contact practices.
While Markov’s was absent from their line-up, the Habs’ power play has struggled greatly without Markov to quarterback it. With Markov in the line-up, the team had one of the highest-ranked
power plays in the National Hockey League. Once he returns, it is hoped that Canadiens will have more success with the extra man. They have only scored two power play goals during Markov’s absence.
Montreal is coming off of a big 3-0 win against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa on Saturday, 23 October. Goaltender Carey Price earned his first shutout in almost two years, while right-winger
Andrei Kostitsyn scored a pair of goals.
Before facing the Canadiens, Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson had scored his 1,000th career point in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, 22 October.
The Habs will face the visiting Phoenix Coyotes at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Monday night. The game is scheduled to start at 19:30.
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