Markov skating lightly, Sergei K off to the Worlds?

News via CKAC that defenseman Andrei Markov was skating Sunday afternoon at the Montreal Canadiens training facility in Brossard.

Markov apprently skated lightly in a track suit along with Paul Mara, who continues to recover from shoulder surgery. The session consisted primarily of light acceleration drills and a few shots on goal.

According to CKAC's Martin McGuire, Markov was "going to do anything" to get back into the playoffs.

There had been specualtion that Markov might have played on Saturday night, after making the trip to Pittsburgh. It was later clarified that the Canadiens' medical staff was also travelling. It was easier for Markov to continue treatment and be evaluated ove the weekend.

According to head coach Jacques Martin, Markov will be re-evaluated by doctors from the skate.

The club held a team metting this morning, and only a handful of skaters (Ben Maxwell. Jaroslav Spacek, Carey Price, Maxim Lapierre and Sergei Kostitsyn) took to the ice.

Spacek has reportedley been given the green-light by team doctors to resume playing, but the decision will ultimately fall on the defenseman and coach Martin.

Meanwhile defenseman Hal Gill says his leg, that was accidentally stepped on by Chris Kunitz in Game Five, suffered "just a cut." The veteran defenseman says he hopes to be ready for Game Six.

There is also a report that benched forward Sergei Kostitsyn has requested to be allowed to play for Belarus at the World Hockey Championships, currently under way in Germany.

In a tweet by Sov Sport's Genadi Boguslavski, Belarus head coach Eduard Zenkevich stated that Kostitsyn made the request several days ago.

No confirmation from the Canadiens has been made, so for now the report will have to lie along the lines of the first five letters in the initiating tweeter's last name.