On Monday, PHT discussed the tough rough ahead for the Montreal Canadiens. Now the light at the end of the tunnel feels a bit more distant.
The team announced that Andrei Markov won’t be available for their “next’ road trip, meeting away games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. (He’s dealing with a groin injury that already sidelined him for three contests.)
Montreal’s probably wise - and reasonable - to compartmentalize the road ahead as two separate road trips, and Michel Therrien believes he could be available during the second half:
Ruled out
Wednesday (Dec. 28): at Lightning
Thursday (Dec. 29): at Panthers
Saturday (Dec. 31): at Penguins
Possibly available
Jan. 3: at Predators
Jan. 4: at Stars
Jan. 7: at Maple Leafs
As you can see, there’s a considerable gap between that road game against the Penguins and then the next set of dates starting on Jan. 3.
This doesn’t mean that Markov will be available next week, but this does give him an opportunity to heal up while the team plays a limited - but tough - slate of games.
At the moment, this is how the Habs’ defense looks:
Nathan Beaulieu - Shea Weber
Mark Barberio - Jeff Petry
Joel Hanley - Zach Redmond
Not ideal, especially since Montreal’s dealing with injuries to their forwards, too. They might need some Hart-quality work from Carey Price to wade through the next couple weeks.