Dec. 12, 2001. 12:41 AM
Melanie Kentner
TORONTO (CP) - Danny Markov didn't enjoy facing his former teammates.
The Phoenix Coyotes defenceman lost 6-3 to Toronto on Tuesday night in his first game against the Maple Leafs since being traded in June.
Markov said it was hard to see his friends as the opposition.
``You spend lots of time with these guys and you know everybody,'' he said. ``It's tough to play against these guys and they are very skilled.''
Markov has shown the most improvement since being traded for Travis Green, Robert Reichel and Craig Mills last June 12.
The Russian defenceman recorded 16 points and 34 penalty minutes in 59 games with Toronto last season. This season with Phoenix, he has 16 points and 41 penalty minutes in 29 games.
As a reward for his improved play, Markov now gets more icetime than any other Phoenix player. He totalled 30 minutes 55 seconds against the Leafs.
``I'm happy with that,'' Markov said. ``I play lots and I play in different situations.''
Markov still sports a black eye, broken nose and 25 stitches from a slapshot in the face in a game against Columbus on Nov. 27. He finished that game, despite the injuries.
Toronto fans got to see the more aggressive Markov on Tuesday.
``Sometimes I play more offence (in Phoenix), sometimes I jump a little,'' he said. ``But I try to play the same way.''
Even though Markov was trying to treat it like any other game, he admitted to being nervous playing against the team with which he had spent four seasons.
``I was a little bit (nervous), but it was fine,'' he said.
Markov was the Leafs' seventh pick (ninth round, 223rd overall) in the 1995 entry draft.
Former Leafs forward Sergei Berezin and former Coyotes Green, Reichel and Mikael Renberg also faced their ex-teammates for the first time since being traded.
Berezin, who was shipped to Phoenix last June for Renberg, got two minutes for interference in the second period, but was otherwise silent. The Russian left-winger spent five seasons with the Leafs, recording 22 goals and 28 assists last season.
``It's kind of special when you play against old teammates, but for me I was only in Phoenix for a few months so it meant more for guys like them,'' said Renberg, who played just 10 games with the Coyotes last season, recording two goals and four assists.
Another former teammate, Reichel scored his seventh goal of the season in the third period to give the Leafs a 4-1 lead.
Even though Toronto got the win, Leafs head coach Pat Quinn didn't like the effect the reunions had on his players.
``I wasn't happy with our overall performance,'' said Quinn. ``It could have been due to the fact so many guys were trying to show the other team made a mistake (in getting rid of him). I think there was a lot of that out there.''
Todd Warriner and Mike Johnson, who is out until January with a knee injury, also are former Toronto players now with Phoenix. CP 0014ES 12-12-01