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MONTREAL - Well, you can forget those rumours of an Andrei Markov return on the Montreal Canadiens blue line.
The Canadiens top defenceman underwent surgery on his knee for a torn anterior cruciate ligament and could be out of the Habs’ lineup until close to Christmas.
Markov was injured in the first period of the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinal when he was hit by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke.
Markov resumed skating, but it’s believed he suffered a setback in practice and opted to have the surgery.
Rookie P.K. Subban has stepped in, but after a strong start against the Penguins, has seen his game fall off in the Eastern final against the Philadelphia Flyers.
HEAR AND THERE: Wednesday was the 29th birthday for the Flyers man of the hour, goaltender Michael Leighton, who asked if he was getting better with age. “I hope so. When I first came to turn pro, somebody came up to me and said most goalies don’t develop until they’re 27, 28 years old. So I was hoping it would be sooner for me. I had my chances in the NHL when I was a little bit younger, but here I am 28, today 29, so maybe that was the right age for me, I don’t know.”...Canadiens veteran Scott Gomez was in the penalty box for the opening (which turned out to be the winning) goals in both Games 1 and 2 in Philadelphia. “I think that as a player you have to recognize what you need to change and I think you’ve got to show by your actions,” said Canadiens coach Jacques Martin. “You’re overzealous and those situations are caused by your overzealousness, but I think as a veteran player, he knows those are situations that he has to correct.”...Game 3 at the Bell Centre will be a big night for players like Flyers forwards Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere. Briere grew up rooting for the Habs, but took a pass on signing with them when he was a free agent, choosing the Flyers instead. “I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan. So to come back in this building is always a little easier motivation, I guess,” said Briere Wednesday. “The history of the team and we have all our friends and families watching from even closer now makes it easier to find that motivation.”...The Flyers are 6-0 since Gagne returned to the lineup. He has six goals in those games, two of them game winners...Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec hasn’t scored in 10 games...Talk is the Flyers could have both forwards Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere ready to return if a Game 5 is needed in Philadelphia Monday.
chris.stevenson@sunmedia.ca
