Habs Knock Off Panthers-Habs 4, Panthers 1

The Montreal Canadiens used a tight defensive effort to defeat the Florida Panthers 4-1 at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens took a 2-0 lead into the 1st intermission and that lead held unil the Panthers struck with less than 4 minutes to play to make it interesting. But Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta both scored into the Panthers empty net in the final 2 minutes to secure the victory. Gionta also scored in the 1st, while Benoit Pouliot scored the other Canadiens goal. Jaroslav Halak was sharp when called upon, making 23 saves for the win. Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves in a losing effort for the Panthers. The Canadiens penalty kill was excellent all night, holding Florida scoreless in 5 tries, including a 5 on 3 near the end of the 2nd period for almost a minute. The power play struggled going 0 for 2 on the night. The Canadiens got an emotional boost when Travis Moen returned to the lineup sporting just a visor and 50 new stitches coutesy of the Ottawa game. Some other thoughts:

>The defence was impressive again, blocking shots and breaking up 2 on 1's. Gill fell asleep on the Panther goal to ruin an almost perfect night. Spacek crushed forward David Booth with a clean hit in the 2nd. Booth, who had major concussion problems earlier in the year needed to be helped off the ice.

>It seems like the top 2 lines are taking turns having big games. After Pleks and company scored both goals last night, Gomez and the crew scored 3 tonight. They could be pretty dangerous if they could both light it up on the same night.

>Moore, Moen and S. Kostitsyn continue to be a great 3rd line. They are good defensively and create offence with hard work.

Another 2 points in the bank puts the Canadiens that much closer to a spot in the post season. After the late collapse last night it was nice to see them successfully hold a lead in this one (although of course they had to give up one to keep everyone on the edge of their seats). The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game was a tough one. I went back and forth, but on this night will give it to Josh Gorges. He had a great night blocking shots and making great plays all over his own zone. He's so underrated it's not even funny. Consideration also given to Moen for his gutsy effort and the buzz saw Gionta. The Devils are next for a Saturday night tilt.

Habs Blow Late Lead-Sabres 3, Habs 2 (SO)

For 57 minutes, the Montreal Canadiens played a textbook road game. But a late penalty allowed the Sabres to get within a goal, then they tied it with just 48 seconds on the clock. After a scoreless overtime, Buffalo came out on top of the shootout for a 3-2 win over the Canadiens. The Canadiens controlled the game for the most part despite giving up 40+ shots. After starting the game with 4 power plays through the first 25 minutes of the game, the Canadiens didn't get one after that while the Sabres got 6 straight, including the one with under 4 minutes to play and another in overtime. The reason....Lindy Ruff lost it on the refs after their 4th penalty and they were obviously intimidated. Regardless, the Canadiens deserved the 2 points tonight. Andrei Kostistyn scored both goals for the Habs. Carey Price got the call in net and made 40 saves, but could only stop 1 out of 3 Sabres shooters in the shootout. Ryan Miller was great as well at the other end making 26 saves, including several point blank chances to keep Buffalo within striking distance. He also stopped both Kostitsyn and Cammalleri in the shootout. Some other thoughts from a disapointing outcome:

>Price, seeing his first action in a while, was awesome. His teammates should be apologizing for the final 3 minutes. Nice to see him have a solid start after so much time off.

>Cammelleri was back in the lineup, and despite not registering a point, sparked his line which produced both goals. Big Tits hadn't scored in a long time, so nice to see him get the monkey off his back.

>Tom Pyatt was a surprise entry into the lineup, forcing Max Lapierre to the press box with Bergeron back in. He made the most of his opportunity with a good effort. Travis Moen also sat out after needing 50 stitches to close a cut on his face from a skate against the Sens.

To look on the bright side, the Canadiens did get a point. But not getting the 2nd one could haunt them in the end. They deserved to win this one, but I remember them stealing one in a similar fashion from the Ducks. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Dominic Moore. Clutch on the draws and great in his own end. Consideration also given to A. Kostitsyn and Price. Quick turnaround time as the next game is tomorrow night back in Montreal against the Panthers.

Canadiens Can't Solve Elliott-Sens 2, Habs 0

The Ottawa Senators used a hot goalie and a great penalty kill to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0. Brian Elliot got the shutout for the Sens, making 29 saves and the Sens penalty kill was perfect in 5 tries. The Habs had their chances, but just could not put anything by the Sens tender. Ottawa also did a great job on the faceoffs, especially on the penalty kill. Jaroslav Halak got the call in goal for the Habs and made 25 saves in a losing effort. The Habs penalty kill allowed a goal in 2 Sens attempts. Canadiens forward Travis Moen left the game in the 2nd after taking a skate to the face. No word on the severity of the injury, but it look pretty scary. The Habs also played without Mike Cammalleri and Marc-Andre Bergeron despite both being given medical clearance to dress. Some other thoughts:

>The defence was above average most of the game, but did give up a pair of 1st period 3 on 1's that Halak bailed them out on.

>Martin shuffled the deck in the 3rd, playing Lil Tits with Gomez and Gionta, while moving Pouliot with Pleks and Big Tits. As you can tell by the score, this did not work.

>The power play needs to start putting the puck on net. The Sens pressured hard the entire night while shorthanded. When the Canadiens did get a chance to throw one on goal they either passed up the chance or missed the net.

Really not a bad effort, just no luck in putting the puck in the net. Hats off to the Sens who did a good job defensively, but the chances were there. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Brian Gionta. 5 shots on goal and as usual worked his bag off. Consideration also given to O'Byrne and Halak. Next game goes Wednesday in Buffalo.

Habs Fall Short In Shootout-Laffs 3, Habs 2 (SO)

In a game I was unable to watch, the Toronto Maple Leafs put an end to the Montreal Canadiens 6 game winning streak with a 3-2 win in a shootout. Brian Gionta scored with under 8 minutes to go in the 3rd period to tie the game at 2. Gionta also scored the first Canadiens goal, while Scott Gomez had a pair of assists. Jaroslav Halak got the call in net and made 31 saves in a losing cause. He allowed 2 goals on 3 shots in the shootout. Jonas Gustavsson picked up the win at the other end making 25 saves, along with another 2 in 3 Canadiens attempts in the shootout. The Habs power play apparently struggled going just 1 for 6 on the night, while the penatly kill allowed a goal on the Laffs only chance.

Despite the loss, the Habs picked up another point to pull into a tie with the Sens and Flyers for 5th in the East. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to the statistical leader on the night, Brian Gionta. Consideration also given to Gomez and Pouliot. Next action, a big game against the Sens Monday night.

Habs Pick Up Another Big Win-Habs 3, Rangers 1

The Montreal Canadiens continued their hot play with a dominate 3-1 win over the New York Rangers at MSG. With the Rangers sitting in 9th in the East, the game was very important for both clubs. But it was the Canadiens who carried the play, outshooting the Rangers 35-20. Despite the big discrepancy in shots, the Habs needed a goal by Sergei Kostitsyn 5:59 into the 3rd to break a 1-1 tie. Tomas Plekanec iced the game into an empty net with the Canadiens shorthanded, while Glen Metropolit scored on the power play in the 1st. Jaroslav Halak made 19 saves for the win, while Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist kept his team in it, making 32 stops. The Canadiens did an excellent job on Gaborik and Joikinen, holding them to 0 points with only 2 shots. The penalty kill was very strong, killing off all 5 Rangers opportunities. The power play went 1/4 on the night. In typical Sean Avery fashion, with under 10 seconds to play he was assessed a cross checking minor along with a slashing major and a game misconduct. Tortorella along with Avery should be disciplined for this. Classesless, that's all plays like that are. Some other thoughts from a great performance:

>The 3rd and 4th lines continue to add a ton of value. Not only are they chipping in with goals, but they are playing a physical brand of hockey and using their speed to create chances.

>The defence as a whole was excellent. I thought O'Byrne was a rock again tonight. He is easily the most improved Canadien.

>Halak wasn't tested much, but made some big stops, especially late. Any rebounds he did kick out were cleared away quickly.

What a big win for the Canadiens tonight. The win not only put some more distance between Montreal and the 9th place Rangers, but also moved the Canadiens into 6th, within a point of the Sens. This was a complete victory and they deserved to win. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Tomas Plekanec. Pleks scored an empty net goal, but was great again in both ends. And to think he was a game time decision. Consideration also given to Moore and O'Byrne. Next up, the Laffs on Saturday night....which I will have to miss.

Canadiens Take Another From Bruins-Habs 3, Bruins 2

The Montreal Canadiens continued their dominance of the Boston Bruins this season with a 3-2 victory Saturday night at the Bell Centre. The win gave the Canadiens their 5th in 6 tries against the Bruins after a disastrous record against them last year. Due to other commitments, I was only able to catch the 1st period of the game, which saw the Habs jump out to a 2-0 lead. Sergei Kostitsyn scored a pair of goals for the Canadiens, while Andrei Markov added a single. Kostitsyn, Markov and Dominic Moore all had 2 point nights. Jaroslav Halak got the call in goal again and made 21 saves for his 5th straight victory. Tuukka Rask took the loss, making 24 saves. The Canadiens power play went 1 for 3 on the night, while the penalty kill was perfect in 3 chances.

Seeing how I didn't get to watch the whole game, my Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game will be based on stats. Sergei Kostitsyn gets the title tonight, scoring a pair of goals including the game winner. Consideration also given to Markov and Moore. Next up for the Canadiens, another important match up, this time against the New York Rangers.

Definition Of An Ugly Win-Habs 5, Oilers 4 (SO)

Tonight's game will need to by filed under the "they don't ask how, they just ask how many" category. The Montreal Canadiens edged the last place Edmonton Oilers 5-4 tonight in a shootout. This game can be summed up by one word....ugly. A couple of factors contributed to this. The power play was awful. Not only did it go 0 for 7 on the night, one of those was a long 5 on 3, to go along with a pair of chances in extra time. Second, Halak had an off night, allowing a couple of pretty weak goals. But he totally redeemed himself in the shootout stopping all 5 Oilers shooters. Halak finished the night with 21 saves while Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk made 22 saves and failed to record his first NHL victory. Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta, Travis Moen and Sergei Kostitsyn scored in regulation, while Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the shootout. Moen and Andrei Markov both had 2 points on the night. The penalty kill allowed a goal on 3 Oilers chances. Some other thoughts:

>Two 4 on 3's in overtime, and Martin uses the same 4 guys both times, Gionta, Gomez, Plekanec and Markov. That's 3 passers and 1 shooter. Why not throw Pouliot or Big Tits out there instead of one of the passers?

>Another nice contribution by the bottom 2 lines tonight. Moen and Lil Tits both scored and their line with Moore was dangerous all night.

>After scoring early, the Canadiens gave up 2 in just over a minute to give the Oilers the lead. After grabbing it back, the Canadiens gave it away twice more which pushed the game to extra time. The inability to hold a lead really hurt in this one.

Two points is two points, but that was tough to watch. The Oilers clearly were playing loose with nothing to lose and the Canadiens quite possibly took them lightly. Regardless, another big win to hold fort in the standings. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Andrei Markov. He was awesome all night, shredding the Oilers with tape to tape passes from his own end. Consideration also given to Travis Moen and Dominic Moore. Next action, a Saturday night date with the Boston Bruins.

Habs Continue Winning Ways-Habs 5, Bolts 3

The Montreal Canadiens ran their winning streak to 3 games with a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts entered the night just 5 points back of the Canadiens in the fight for the final few playoff spots. Mathieu Darche scored a pair of goals for the winners, while Scott Gomez, Glen Metropolit and Benoit Pouliot added singles. Gomez finished the night with 3 points, while Markov, Darche and Metropolit all had 2 points. Darche's second goal of the night early in the 3rd gave the Canadiens a 3 goal lead, but the Bolts pressured late and got within a goal with 1:03 to play. Jaroslav Halak got the call in net and made 28 saves for the win. Antero Niittymaki started for the Lightning, but was pulled half way through the 2nd, giving way to Mike Smith. The two goalies combined for 23 saves. The Canadiens power play scored a goal in two chances, while the penalty kill went 3 for 4. Some other thoughts:

>The top line of Gomez, Gionta and Pouliot continued their strong play. Gomez was on fire tonight and the entire line swarmed the Bolts all night.

>Hal Gill had a rough night, highlighted by a terrible giveaway on the Bolts first goal. Jaroslav Spacek had an excellent night making several key defensive plays on the Lightning's top players.

>The "4th" line combined for 3 goals. Now not all of these goals were scored with all three of them on the ice, but anytime your muckers can contribute offensively it is a huge boost.

Another solid effort by the Habs tonight. At this time of year, a winning streak of any kind is huge. Tonight was a good, hardworking game. The Bolts pressed late, but the Canadiens were able to hold them off. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game tonight is a no brainer. Scott Gomez was the best player on the ice, no doubt about it. He put up points and mixed it up. Consideration also given to Darche and Spacek. Next up, another home game against the Oilers.

Habs Use Late Comeback To Edge Ducks-Habs 4, Ducks 3 (SO)

The Montreal Canadiens scored twice in the final 1:50 to send the game to overtime and eventually defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in a shootout. The Habs came out flat in the first, allowing 3 goals and finding themselves on the wrong end of a 3-0 score. Tomas Plekanec score on a breakaway mid way through the 2nd frame to cut the lead to two. Brian Gionta scored with 1:50 left followed by a goal by Andrei Markov with just 11 seconds to go to send the game to extra time. Props to Markov for the point and laugh celebration directed towards Corey Perry. Tomas Plekanec ended the game in the shootout beating Jonas Hiller for the second time in the game. Jaroslav Halak replaced Carey Price at the start of the second and stopped all 21 shots he faced along with stopping 3 of 4 Ducks shooters in the shootout. Price allowed 3 goals on just 11 shots, and although none of the goals were particularly bad, he needed to stop at least 1 or 2 of them. Hiller made 40 saves in a losing cause. The Canadiens power play went 0/3 on the night, while the Ducks scored on their lone power play. Some other thoughts from an exciting game:

>Martin had me scratching my head again when he replaced Pouliot on the top line with Ben Maxwell. I have no idea why he would put Maxwell with Gomez and Gionta. Darche, maybe I could see. I would have just left Pouliot on that line considering the way they have been playing.

>Offensively, the Canadiens played really well all game. All 4 lines were creating chances and if my math is correct the Habs hit 4 posts. The issue in the 1st was part goaltending, but mostly bad defence.

>Great job by Halak in relief. Made the saves when needed and came up with a couple of game savers in the shootout.

Tidy little road trip for the Canadiens which saw them take 6 of 8 points, and hold a lead for most of the game in the one they lost. Great comeback tonight showed this team has heart. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Tomas Plekanec. Was great all over the ice again and scored in regulation to go along with the shootout winner. Consideration also given to Markov and Halak. The Bolts invade the Bell Centre Tuesday as the Habs try to make it 3 in a row.

Habs Crown Kings-Habs 4, Kings 2

The Montreal Canadiens gutted out a huge 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings tonight in front of a large number of Habs fans in LA. Brian Gionta scored just 22 seconds into the 1st to give the Canadiens an early lead. Dominic Moore then tallied shorthanded in the 2nd to break a 1-1 tie followed by Benoit Pouliot hitting the scorsheet just 34 seconds into the 3rd to make it a 3-1 game. The Kings got back within a goal, but Tomas Plekanec iced it into the empty net with just over a minute to play. Gionta, Pouliot and Scott Gomez all had 2 point nights. Jaroslav Halak got his first start since the Olympic break and made 23 saves for the win. Jonathan Quick made 21 saves in a losing cause. The Canadiens penalty kill was a huge factor holding the Kings scoreless in 4 tries to go along with a shorthanded goal. The power play only had one chance and could not convert. Some other thoughts:

>The Gomez line continued their strong play, combining for 6 points. They seemed to be in the Kings zone the whole night.

>The defence played pretty well, but Hal Gill had a rough night. O'Byrne got into a fight and played another solid game.

>Sergei Kostitsyn was demoted to the 3rd line, while Tom Pyatt jumped up to play with Pleks and Big Tits. Ben Maxwell was recalled from Hamilton to take Lapierre's spot, but only saw 5 minutes of ice time along with his line mates, Metro and Darche.

With the win the Canadiens, at least temporarily, jump into sole possession of the final playoff spot in the East. The Kings are a very good, young team who are set to make their first appearance in the playoffs in a while, so this win was no easy task. But the Canadiens played gritty and took advantage of their chances. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game tonight goes to Scott Gomez. Had a pair of assists and was excellent in both ends all night. Honorable mentions go to his line mates Gionta and Pouliot. No rest for the wicked as the Canadiens take on Saku Koivu and the Ducks tomorrow night.

Lapierre Suspended For 4 Games....Are You Kidding Me?

The National Hockey League announced today that Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended 4 games for his hit on the Sharks Scott Nichol in last nights game. Nichol broke in on a breakaway, was stopped, and Lapierre while in pursuit cross checked him causing him to fall awkwardly into the boards. Nichol was down briefly until he realized there was no penalty on the play so he popped up and got involved in the scrum that ensued after. Apparently Nichol did not return after the hit, although it was in the 3rd period and he plays on the 4th line, so the odds of him getting a shift were slim at best anyway. One of the referees was literally 3 feet away from the play, staring straight at it, yet didn't think it was a penalty. Nor did the other official or the 2 linesman who have the ability to call a major penalty if they see fit. So none of the officials even thought it was a minor penalty, yet Colin Campbell thinks it's enough to warrant a 4 game suspension. Lapierre has never been suspended at the NHL level, so I would assumed he is considered a first time offender.

This is one of the things that is wrong with the NHL. A player known as an agitator commits a play like this, which I'm sure he regrets, but I highly doubt there was any intent whatsoever to injure the other player, and gets 4 games. If Heatley, Marleau or Thornton does the same thing it doesn't even make the highlight tape, much less get a suspension. Hell Rob Blake threw Tomas Plekanec to the ice the same game and continued to drive his head into the ground (while Plekanec was without a helmet) yet gets a matching minor with Pleks. It's all about who you are in a lot of cases like this.

And let's not forget Milan Lucic cross checked Lapierre in the face and gets 1 game. Ruutu throws a deliberate elbow on Lapierre (and had a suspension before) and got 2 games. I have no idea why Campbell would give a 4 game suspension. Maybe he was caught up listening to that rat Ray Ferraro who was playing tough guy from 40 feet above the ice. Ray, we all had access to TV's when you played. Don't try to act like you were a killer.

I'm not going to act like Lapierre is totally innocent in this case or by any means a saint. I'm sure he regrets this play and wishes it would have never happened. But we see plays worse than this every game. Earlier in the game Moore got cross-checked into the cross bar, and no one bats an eye. The NHL needs to set consistent guidelines that everyone knows, not just make up rules and regulations depending on the player. Think about this...Ovechkin has been involved in multiple questionable hits the past two seasons, but has only received one 2 game suspension (after he was injured while kneeing the player anyway). No double standard.....right.

Habs Fall Short Against Sharks-Sharks 3, Habs 2

The Montreal Canadiens led for most of the night, but gave up a pair of late goals and finished on the losing end of a 3-2 score against the western conference leading San Jose Sharks. The Sharks scored twice in under 3 minutes in the last half of the 3rd to take the lead for the first time in the game. Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta scored the Canadiens goals with both also picking up assists on the night. Gomez's goal came shortly after the Sharks had tied the contest with a shorthanded marker early in the 2nd. Carey Price was spectacular making 37 saves, including several highlight reel glove hand snags. Evgeni Nabokov made 28 saves in the Sharks net. Despite being outsized, the Canadiens pushed back against the Sharks and seemed to be under their skin all night. I made the stupid decision to watch the game on TSN. Not even Chris Cuthbert's smooth play by play could outweigh the crap spewing from Ray Ferraro's mouth all game. According to hockeyfights.com, Ferraro was involved in 12 fights in his entire NHL career, yet you'd think he had more bouts than Chris Nilan the way he talks. Enough with the negativity, no one wants to listen to you ripping players all night like you were Gretzky out there when you played. Please TSN, can him and bring back someone who doesn't want to make me vomit. Some other thoughts:

>Plekanec was great tonight. HE didn't show up on the scoresheet (except for penalties) but worked hard and drove the Sharks nuts. Too bad his linemates who happen to be brothers didn't help him much.

>The special teams let the Canadiens down. The power play went 1 for 4, but gave up a short handed goal and didn't do much after scoring on their first chance. The penalty kill allowed the tieing goal and ended the night killing 3 of 4 Sharks chances.

>Gomez and Gionta were flying. Combined for 4 points and 11 shots.

Very tough pill to swallow tonight. After leading for so long, the Canadiens just couldn't hold on any longer. Even a point against a team like the Sharks would have been huge. The Canadiens now find themselves in a tie for 8th. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game tonight goes to Carey Price. Made some incredible saves and kept the Habs in it during a tough 2nd period. Honorable mentions go to Pleks and Gionta. Next up the Kings Saturday night.

Big 3rd Period Secures Win-Habs 4, Bruins 1

For two periods, it didn't appear the Canadiens would get anything by Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. But the 3rd and 4th lines put 3 past him in the final frame as the Canadiens defeated the Bruins 4-1. Glen Metropolit, Mathieu Darche, Max Lapierre and Benoit Pouliot into an open net (although it was credited against Rask as he was making his way to the bench at the time) did the damage for the Canadiens. Metropolit, Darche and Tom Pyatt all had 2 point nights. After allowing a soft 1st period goal, Carey Price shut the door the rest of the way making 23 saves to pick up the victory. Rask stopped 28 shots. The Canadiens power play went 0 for 2 on the night, while the penalty kill allowed a goal on 3 chances. Andrei Kostitsyn and Benoit Pouliot both returned to action after lengthy stints on the IR, while Paul Mara and Matt D'Agositini were both healthy scratches. A "USA, USA" chant by the Bruins fans was quickly silenced with the Metropolit goal to tie the game at 1. Some other thoughts on a big win over an arch rival:

>Both the bottom two lines were great. Metro, Pyatt and Darche were excellent at both ends and provided a ton of energy. Moore, Moen and Lapierre provided much of the same.

>The Tits brothers lines up with Pleks, and really the entire line didn't do much. Had a few chances, but they need to start putting more pucks on net.

>The defence did a great job in the 3rd, but allowed a few too many odd man rushes in the opening two periods.

Nice win to vault the Habs over the Bruins in the East. It was great to see some clutch goals by the 3rd and 4th lines, this win was mostly due to them and Price. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game tonight goes to Glen Metropolit. Metro continues to work hard every shift and lead by example. It didn't hurt either that he picked up a couple of points. Honorable mentions to Hal Gill and Carey Price. Next up a battle with the Sharks on Thursday.

Team Canada Strikes Gold....Now Eyes Back On The Canadiens

Team Canada's men's hockey team lived up to the hype and struck gold on home soil to put a exclamation point on the 2010 Winter Olympics. Sidney Crosby beat Ryan Miller with a quick wrist shot 7:40 into overtime to send the entire country into a frenzy. Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry scored the other Canadian goals. The Americans battled back from a 2-0 deficit and Zach Parise tied it with 24 seconds to play to silence the crowd. But Team Canada wouldn't be denied, ending the game and winning the 14th gold medal for the country. The ladies hockey team made it 3 straight Olympics golds with a 2-0 win over their arch rivals from the US on Thrusday. The Canadians finished with 26 medals overall and many exciting moments. It was a fantastic couple of weeks of sports, bringing out patriotism in Canada that has never been seen before.

As for Canadiens at the Olympics, they will all return home without a medal. Jaroslav Halak was spectacular all tournament, but his Slovaks dropped their semi final game to the Canadians, then the bronze medal game to the Finns. Halak ended the games with a 2.41 GAA and a 0.9105 save percentage. Tomas Plekanec and the Czech's were ousted in the quarter finals by the Finns. Andrei Markov returned to Montreal disappointed as his Russian team was thumped in the quarter finals by Canada 7-3. Markov was used in a limited role for some reason, probably a factor in Russian going home so early. Sergei Kostitsyn led Belarus in points, but they were ousted by the Swiss in the qualification round in a shootout. Yannick Weber and the Swiss fell to the US in the quarter finals 2-0 and gave Team Canada a scare in the round robin.