'"It's an excuse for losers, so I don't like to use that," said Canadiens defenceman Francis Bouillon, who has logged major minutes in Markov's absence, including 28:30 of ice time Thursday. "But when you're missing Kovalev and Koivu, two of the best players on the team, and you're missing one of your best defencemen too, it's pretty hard on a team. But we're professionals here and some guys have to step up."'