Montreal Canadiens’ Andrei Markov to miss team’s next game
When the Montreal Canadiens dealt a 7-2 thrashing to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday 13 November, the victory came at a price.
According to The Canadian Press, star defenceman Andrei Markov was lost to what appeared to be a knee injury. Markov sustained the injury after being involved in a knee-on-knee
collision with Hurricanes captain Eric Staal during the third period. He was helped off the ice by his team-mates, and did not return to the game.
The Canadiens have kept mum about the nature of Markov’s injury, and they have refused to confirm reports that the blue-liner will be out of action for a three-month period. However, they
have mentioned that Markov is currently suffering from a lower-body injury, and that he will undergo further testing later this week. The team also confirmed that Markov will not be in the line-up for the Habs’ next game.
Markov was initially injured during the team’s playoff run last season. During the second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament after
a collision with Penguins forward Matt Cooke. The 31-year-old Russian was lost for the rest of the team’s playoff run, and spent the entire off-season and training camp period rehabbing his injury.
Markov returned to the team on 30 October, and has played in the team’s past seven games, notching a goal and two assists. He scored his first goal of the season in Montreal’s 2-0 shutout
win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday 9 November.
Originally drafted by the Canadiens 162nd overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Markov has since become the cornerstone of the Habs’ defence corps. He plays a great defensive game, and
often makes offensive contributions as well. Markov has also mentored rookie defender P.K. Subban, with whom he was paired in his last few games.
In 623 career games with the Habs, Markov has scored 81 goals and 285 assists for a total of 366 points. The Canadiens will play their next game on Tuesday 16 November against the Philadelphia
Flyers.
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