Andrei Markov Has a Torn ACL

[RGM81]

Confirmed by TSN (though the Habs are still not saying anything) today:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=320514

Even though Markov hasn't been at his best this playoff season, it's a huge blow to the team's playoff run and possibly the start of their next season depending on how long the rehabilitation process takes.

Hopefully he'll be able to fully recover from this and be the same dominant player that he was prior to the injury.

[StadiumSportsCard]

Wow! The way he went down - I thought of Riberio at first. You could not see any real contact with the shoulders, the kness, etc.... He must of twisted or hyperextended it enough to cause the tear.

Hopefully he recovers as he is in my mind one of the top 5 d in the league.

[RGM81]

Nope it was a clean hit (amazing considering it involved Matt Cooke) but he went very awkwardly into the boards and definitely wrenched his knee on impact. Karine, our in-house expert on knee injuries, says that she can't even bear to watch the play because of the gruesome outcome.

[Pheebs888]

Yeah...I saw that one coming...the twist didnt look too bad so I was hoping for a partial tear but it's a complete one ouch...To me that's at the very least 6 months off for Markov, and he's going to have to be very careful when he comes back :( Actually had nightmares about it the night it happened cos it looked too much like some of my past injuries lol

[Drifter2000]

I guess it goes without saying that the load on the back end for Montreal is going to fall largely on Bergeron and Subban.

I wasn't paying direct attention to the play when it happened, but when I heard Markov was hurt, and Cooke made the hit; I looked up at the television and expected to see another dirty play. That tells you something about Cooke.

Montreal are in tough, but if the right guys can up their play enough; they may be able to cover some of the void left with Markov out. Although I heard today that Montreal hasn't officially said he's out for the playoffs. So the show on TV I was listening to today thought he may play through it with a brace. Not even sure that's possible?

[Pheebs888]

Playing with a torn ACL wearing a brace with the whole league aware of the injury would be nothing but health suicide really. If he did that, I wouldnt admire him I would say he's being stupid. At this stage the best thing for him is to focus on getting better, we're not talking about a broken finger here, we're talking about something rather more serious. I played with a made to order brace after my operation and the ACL gave way again, of course he's a professional athlete with the best medical staff available to him but it would be silly of the Habs to gamble on his health like that...

[MasonRaymond0320]

Losing a player like that will ruin the Canadians hopes at the Cup.

[black bass]

This loss as bad as it is may make the Habs fight even harder... " Us against the world " !!