Posted by
Elie on 10/02/2009 - 03:57 PM
Okay, so that lasted all of what, 45 minutes?
Absolutely devastating news came out of Montreal early today, with RDS breaking the way announcing that Andrei Markov will be out of the game for [up to] four months including rehab.
In short, the only hockey he is going to be seeing is on TV until about after the Olympic games set in Vancouver in February.
Just a side note before continuing: Markov was the last Canadien from last season to steadily wear the "A" in the past.
Markov stayed in Toronto as the rest of the team left for Buffalo, undergoing surgery to repair a "lacerated tendon in his left ankle."
How did this injury happen? Markov was cut by a skate, none other than Carey Price's skate, while he scrambled to get back into position before the Maple Leafs scored their third goal.
This is the second time Markov has been hurt in Toronto at the ACC. Last season, in the final game he was hit from behind into the boards by former Canadiens forward Mikhail Grabovski, blowing out his knee and forcing the defenseman to sit out the remainder of the season and playoffs.
To fill the void that Markov leaves, the Habs are going to rely on Roman Hamrlik, recently recovering from the flu, and TSN is reporting that Yannick Weber is expected to be called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Weber was cut from camp and sent to the Bulldogs last week.
Finally, the worst statistic any Canadiens fan wants to hear right now (and dreadfully remembers from last season): 7-20. That's the Canadiens' record when Markov is missing from the lineup.
The best news a Canadiens fan could hear? This doesn't spell doomsday.
Jaroslav Spacek had some time last night quarterbacking the power play, which is good news with this injury.
Josh Gorges had his hands full last night, scoring the overtime winner with 12 seconds left to go in the OT. He also had a piece of Montreal's tying goal, getting the shot off while Glen Metropolit redirected it in.
With Weber and the above mentioned Hamrlik, the Habs will look to rely on Spacek, Hal Gill, Paul Mara, Gorges, and Ryan O'Byrne.
Defense looked to be a concern last night as Price was peppered with 43 shots. Something like another 25 were blocked by Canadiens defensemen.
Posted by Elie on 10/02/2009 - 03:57 PMOkay, so that lasted all of what, 45 minutes?