Markov

What the heck... it was worth a shot. Got to Brossard an hour before today's scheduled practice, and at 10 am Francis Bouillon is skating with Canadiens strength and conditioning co-ordinator Scott Livingston.

No sign of fellow defenceman Andrei Markov, whom we might yet see before the Habs leave tomorrow afternoon for Boston.

More to come from practice later...

Defencemen Mathieu Schneider (left) and Andrei Markov celebrate a goal last Thursday on Long Island.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

PREGAME AUDIO:  Gainey  Komisarek   Brisebois  Janik

Defencemen Andrei Markov and Mathieu Schneider have both been scratched for tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators. Nor is coach Bob Gainey overly optimistic that either will be back to face the New York Rangers tomorrow, saying it's not uncommon for a player who can't suit up one night to also be unavailable 24 hours later.

Neither player participated in the morning skate today and Doug Janik was recalled from Hamilton to fill out the lineup. Markov and Schneider both suffered upper-body injuries – think shoulder – in Saturday's 6-2 rout of Toronto. Both rearguards had early-morning MRI exams, with Gainey saying after morning skate that neither would be available tonight. The coach expected to meet with Canadiens doctor David Mulder this evening to get a clearer idea about their condition.

The injured defencemen will be missed most on the power play. Markov has 39 of his team-leading 64 points with the man advantage while Schneider has scored 16 points in 21 games since coming over from Atlanta and most of those have been on the power play.

Based on the pairings this morning, Mike Komisarek and Josh Gorges will be the No. 1 combination while Roman Hamrlik will play with Patrice Brisebois. Janik and Ryan O'Byrne will be the third pair.

Jaroslav Halak starts in goal, Carey Price as the backup. Look for Price to return tomorrow against the Rangers. Andrei Kostitsyn is a healthy scratch again tonight.

The Canadiens have just recalled defenceman Doug Janik from the Hamilton Bulldogs, which suggests that either Andrei Markov or Mathieu Schneider or both might not be available for tonight's home game vs. Ottawa. Both Markov and Schneider left Saturday's game against Toronto before the end of the contest.

Goalie Marc Denis has been sent back to Hamilton, indicating that Carey Price, sidelined the past two games with the flu, is ready to return to action, either in a starting or backup capacity.

More details to come.

Updated with new photos Sunday 10:45 pm

Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov had a goal in his first NHL All-Star Game, and a victory to show for his efforts.

Markov finished tonight's 8-7 East victory in Atlanta at +2, with 19:41 of ice time for his 15 shifts, two shots on goal with a missed shot, a giveaway (which resulted in the West's first goal of the game, 12 seconds into the first period) and a takeaway.

Images from the game are found here. You'll find a gallery of earlier photos here from Saturday festivities.

Canadiens' Andrei Markov, photographed with blue-line partner Mike Komisarek (8), is taking part in his first All-Star Game this weekend.
André Ringuette, NHLI via Getty Images

He's one of the least-known superstars in the National Hockey League. But this season, fans across the league took a hard look at the statistics, and probably his worth to the Canadiens, and voted defenceman Andrei Markov to his first NHL all-star team – as a starter.

The 29-year-old Russian came to training camp last September on the heels of having signed a four-year, $23-million contract in May that made him the richest Canadien of all time, and shortly after the departure of fellow defenceman Sheldon Souray, who carried the Habs power play to greatness last season.

But Markov has responded brilliantly to the challenges before him, and is on pace to enjoy a career-best season. This weekend's All-Star Game festivities are tangible recognition of what he brings to the ice and the Canadiens dressing room now.

The quiet Markov spent a half-hour this week with The Gazette's Dave Stubbs to chat for this feature story.

And Markov was accorded this huge praise by his blue-line partner Mike Komisarek, who coincidentally (or not) is having a terrific season of his own.

Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov holds a 51,088-vote lead over Boston's Zdeno Chara, continuing to lead all Eastern Conference rearguards in updated balloting for the NHL All-Star Game.

Netminder Cristobal Huet continues to lead New Jersey's Martin Brodeur in the goaltending category, 122,228 votes to 120,537.

Captain Saku Koivu ranks seventh with voters for Eastern forwards, while write-in candidate Alex Kovalev is 12th.

Cast your ballot(s) here. And you'll find the new NHL-released totals here.

Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet and defenceman Andrei Markov continue to be the top vote-getters at their positions in balloting for the Eastern Conference all-star team. Captain Saku Koivu and forward Alex Kovalev continue to garner votes, Kovalev as a write-in candidate.

Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov, on his first NHL All-Star Game ballot, trails only Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby after six days of Eastern Conference fan balloting for this year's game to be held Jan. 27 in Atlanta.

Markov has earned 48,134 votes, second to Crosby's 94,118 and ahead of the 45,949 garnered by Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. Some 2.15 million ballots have been cast in the online election.

Canadiens captain Saku Koivu had 17,891 votes, ninth-best among Eastern Conference skaters, while goalie Cristobal Huet, the third Hab on the ballot, had 24,515, fourth-best among netminders. Alex Kovalev had 5,990 write-in votes, 24th-best among skaters.