Jussi Markkanen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = HC CSKA Moscow
former_teams = RSL
Lada Togliatti
SM-liiga
SaiPa
Tappara
Jokerit
NHL
New York Rangers
Edmonton Oilers
league = KHL


position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 182
nickname = Juicy, Volvo
nationality = FIN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1975|5|8|mf=y
birth_place = Imatra, FIN
draft = Round 5, 133rd overall
draft_year = 2001
draft_team = Edmonton Oilers
career_start = 2001

Jussi Markkanen (born May 8, 1975 in Imatra, Finland) is a former NHL goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers. He currently plays for HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Playing career

Markkanen is a professional ice hockey goaltender who has played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the NHL. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, 133rd overall, by the Edmonton Oilers, as an over-aged entrant.

Markkanen has spent his entire NHL career in Edmonton, except for a single season stint with the New York Rangers. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Markkanen played in the Russian Super League, where he posted a dominant 31–9–9 record. On July 2007 Jokerit informed that they had made a one-year contract with Markkanen for the next sm-liiga season.

2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs

After an injury to Oilers starter Dwayne Roloson, Markkanen was selected by coach Craig MacTavish to finish the 2006 Stanley Cup finals as Edmonton's #1 goaltender.

Markkanen won the first Stanley Cup game of his career in Game 3 of the Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes on June 10th, 2006, a game in which his play was stellar, earning himself the first star of the game.

In Game 5 of the Final, Markkanen and the Oilers grabbed victory when Edmonton beat Carolina 4–3 in OT thanks to Fernando Pisani's short-handed breakaway goal. This earned Markkanen his second-ever NHL playoff victory. The win saw him face 24 shots on goal.

Game 6 of the final in Edmonton saw Markkanen stop all 16 Hurricane shots, which earned him his first career playoff shutout and respect from many sports analysts. This victory led the Oilers to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, which was held in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 19 2006. Carolina went on to be victorious in Game 7. Markkanen gave up two goals and the Hurricanes later secured the win with an empty net goal late in the third period, defeating Edmonton 3–1 to win the Stanley Cup.

After NHL

After the great season in Edmonton, Markkanen did not regain the same form in the following season and after the 2006–07 NHL season, Markkanen was out of contract.

Markkanen was contracted by Finnish top-runners Jokerit, who replaced Scott Langkow with Markkanen. Markkanen's move was a bit controversial because he owns a part of SaiPa, which also plays in the Finnish SM-liiga with Jokerit.

Markkanen played the Regular Season well, placing on the top goalkeepers in the league. Markkanen however sustained a heavy injury during his first Play-Off Game and missed the remainder of the Play-Offs.

After the end of the season, It was announced that Markkanen will return to Russian Super League, where he played during the 2004–05 Lockout-season for Lada Togliatti. Markkanen's new club will be the famous Russian side CSKA Moscow.

Personal

He is married to his wife, Sanna. Their family suffered a tragedy in Moscow, as one of their two sons, Oli-Matias, died after falling out of a window while playing in the living room with his younger brother.

Career statistics

Regular season

*"Stats as of May 5th 2008"

Playoffs

*"Stats as of May 5th 2008"

ee also

*List of current NHL players

External links

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