By LUKE DECOCK, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- Danny Markov told his teammates not to worry about the three teeth he lost Thursday night.

"It's probably better," the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman told center Rod Brind'Amour. "I needed some new ones anyway."

Markov took a high-stick in the mouth early in the Canes' 6-3 NHL victory over the New York Rangers, but after X-rays on his jaw found no other damage, he was back out on the ice to open the second period.

His sense of humor and the quick return impressed Brind'Amour.

"I literally stick-handled two of his teeth to [trainer] Pete Friesen," Brind'Amour said. "They were sitting there under his skate. I didn't expect to see him back out on the ice. ...

"It was one of those ugly things, and he just made light of it. There's no question that guy's a seriously tough kid."

The Canes didn't even get a power play out of it because Alex Kovalev was adjudged to have been following through on a clearing attempt when his stick clipped Markov.