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Markov leads Canadiens past Red Wings in shootout

Sep 25, 2008 - 2:46 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Defenseman Andrei Markov scored the lone goal in the fourth round of the shootout, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in a preseason game on Wednesday.

Montreal's Cedrick Desjardins made saves on Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa and Tomas Holmstrom, while Ville Leino shot wide on his attempt.

With just over three minutes remaining in the second period, Justin Abdelkader netted a power-play goal to snap a 1-1 tie. But Thomas Deauregard forged a 2-2 tie by cashing in during a man advantage 12:09 into the third.

Carey Price made 25 saves over two periods before being replaced by Desjardins, who turned aside all nine shots he faced. The 21-year-old Price, along with talented right wing Alex Kovalev and defenseman Roman Hamrlik, will be counted upon by coach Guy Carbonneau to lead Montreal to back-to-back division titles for the first time in 19 seasons.

Both Kovalev and Hamrlik, however, were scratches due to groin injuries.

Ty Conklin, who turned away seven shots, was replaced by Jimmy Howard just over 30 seconds after allowing Matt D'Agostini's power-play tally at 8:42 of the second that evened the game at 1-1. Howard finished with 10 saves.

Holmstrom opened the scoring at 5:35 of the first with a man-advantage goal.

Canadiens defenseman Mathieu Carle was carted off the ice after sustaining an injury as a result of a hard hit by Red Wings right wing Tomas Kopecky just 5 1/2 minutes into the contest. He lost and regained consciousness while laying on the ice for nearly 15 minutes before being taken away on a stretcher.

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom also left the game after being struck in the face with a shot three minutes into the third. The 16-year veteran defenseman required stitches and was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays.