Habs Playoff Chances Take Major Hit

From www.tsn.ca

The defence corps for the Montreal Canadiens took a major hit Monday, as TSN learned that the Habs will be without leading scorer Andrei Markov for three weeks and Mathieu Schneider‘s season is over.

Both players underwent x-rays and MRI’s earlier in the day after being injured during Saturday’s victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The team has yet to reveal the nature of either’s injuries.

RDS is reporting that Schneider will likely have to undergo season-ending surgery while Markov would likely return by the end of the month.

It would be a major hit for a Montreal team that has suddenly rounded into form after struggling earlier in the year.  Markov, who suffered the injury in the third period Saturday when he was drilled by Leafs’ forward Mikhail Grabovski, leads the team with 64 points, while Schneider was the Habs big acquisition prior to the NHL trade deadline.

The Candiens face the Senators Monday night in search of their fourth straight victory.  The team currently sit seventh in the Eatern Conference, three points ahead of the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers.  Montreal is also just one point back of idle Pittsburgh for the East’s sixth spot.

Instant analysis: In one word, OUCH. Just as the Habs started to take off, this news breaks. To call it devastating would be an understatement. Schneider’s presence on the back end solidified this roster and made them a playoff threat. Now, they will be hard-pressed just to make it into the playoffs, nevermind make a cup run. The Habs centennial season has been an un-mitigated disaster.