Canadiens lose Markov for rest of season

(SI.com) -- Andrei Markov of the Montreal Canadiens has been lost for the season due to his knee injury.

The defenseman will have surgery on Wednesday to repair a meniscus and reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The surgery will be performed in Alabama by Dr. James Andrews.

"We are very confident that Andrei will be able to fully recover from this injury, " said the Canadiens' general manager Pierre Gauthier.

Markov, 31, suffered the injury during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 13 at the Bell Centre, and has missed Montreal last nine games. He'd scored a goal and been credited with two assists in seven games this season. Markov missed the first 10 games, from October 7 to 29, due to another knee injury he suffered on April 30, 2010.