Canadiens fans: time to get sad.
Habs’ Markov Returns To Montreal For Treatment After Suffering ‘Lower Body’ Injury
We know things are still pretty good for you these days, just a few sleeps after knocking off the Washington Capitals in epic upset fashion, even despite your teams' 6-3 loss in Game 1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. But things are about to get a lot worse.
The anchor of the Habs' defense, Andrei Markov, has returned to Montreal for treatment on what the team is calling a "lower-body" injury, according to TSN. Anybody who watched the video of the incident, however, will tell you that it's quite clearly a knee injury. See for yourself:
It was a hit by the always questionable Matt Cooke, but this one was 100 percent clean. Markov probably shouldn't have tried to eliminate the hit by attacking back at Cooke. If Markov just braced for the hit and took it into the boards, he likely would've been fine.
Instead, he’s out, and if you ask Pat Hickey, a writer at the Montreal Gazette, he’s likely done for the year.
It appeared Markov injured his right knee, but the Canadiens, who are reluctant to offer any information on injuries, described it as a “lower-body injury” and said Markov would be evaluated later [Saturday].
I’m not a doctor, but I’ve seen enough injuries that I’m willing to bet that we’ve seen the last of Andrei Markov in this year’s playoffs.
If that's the case, it's a crushing blow for the Canadiens chances at another upset. Markov is far and away the best defenseman the team has. He leads all Habs blue liners in time on ice per game and he routinely plays on the power play as well. In his absence, Montreal needs guys like P.K. Subban, Josh Gorges and Ryan O'Byrne to step up big time.
For more on this story and the fan reaction to it, visit SBN’s Canadiens blog, Eyes On The Prize.
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