By LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun 
EDMONTON -- The Russian Front has broken down on the Maple Leafs, right in the middle of a key winter campaign:  

Defenceman Alexander Karpovtsev will be on the injured reserve list for one to three weeks with a fractured left thumb.  

Defenceman Danny Markov, who has a bruised foot, will miss tonight's game against the Edmonton Oilers and remains doubtful for tomorrow's game in Calgary against the Flames.  

Left winger Sergei Berezin will stay in Toronto nursing a pulled hamstring and likely also will miss the third game of this trip on Monday in Vancouver against the Canucks.  

The latter's injury could open the door tonight for the third go-round of former captain Wendel Clark, pending Garry Valk's recovery from a nagging groin injury.  

As Karpovtsev flew east, his plane would have crossed paths with minor-league callup Nathan Dempsey's en route from St. John's. 

Karpovtsev has missed six games with injuries this season and 23 last season, mostly because of a series of injuries to his wrists and thumbs. But despite initial fears of a long layoff, Karpovtsev is convinced he can take advantage of next week's four-day break and be ready to face the Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Centre by Jan. 22.  

Oilers doctor David Reid examined Karpovtsev yesterday, but the Leafs want to double-check with their own medical staff today. He suffered the injury late in Tuesday's 3-2 win in Boston, when the Bruins Rob DiMaio shoved him into the boards from behind. Karpovtsev stayed in the rough and tumble game.  

"I knew the thumb was bad, but I wanted to help my team win," Karpovtsev said.  

Earlier this season, he fought Chris Simon of the Capitals and Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers.