MILAN — Team Canada plays its first win-or-home game of the 2026 Winter Games, and its lineup remains a bit of a mystery.
While the injured Brad Marchand and Josh Morrissey returned to full practice Tuesday, superstar Nathan MacKinnon and reigning Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett both skipped the high-paced, hour-long session in the name of maintenance.
“We’re all good. No panic,” Canadian head coach Jon Cooper assured.
MacKinnon took hard hits to the chin and the knee in garbage time of Canada’s 10-2 preliminary-round victory over France on Sunday. He assured he was “fine” afterward, but it is notable that he and Bennett remained off the ice even after a full day off on Monday.
No one sporting a maple leaf doubted that MacKinnon will push through whatever is ailing him.
“I don't think I’ve ever questioned it once. I know how much he loves the game,” Canadian captain Sidney Crosby said. “He’ll play through anything.”
“Well, he’s a bull,” Cooper echoed. “To have that much power, strength and skill all packed in one, it’s a rarity.”
Morrissey has been sidelined since last week’s opener versus Czechia with an undisclosed injury. Although he skated alongside original partner Colton Parayko, Morrissey’s status for Wednesday’s potential rematch (provided Czechia defeats underdog Denmark on Tuesday) is uncertain.
“That was a big thing for him to get out here today,” Cooper said. “He looked great. But (I won’t decide) until after I talk to him.”
According to our eyes and our gut: Morrissey plays.
Cooper confirmed the 37-year-old Marchand is “available" to play, but the winger may have simply skated as a placeholder:
Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Marner – Crosby – Stone
Hagel – Suzuki – Reinhart
Marchand – Horvat – Jarvis
“He’s always raring to go. I feel like every time he’s on the ice, he’s got a ton of energy,” Crosby said. “That’s just his personality.”
Surely, Marchand’s Olympic ailment is related to what kept him out of a couple games for the Florida Panthers before the tournament.
“Um, yeah, part of that. But part of it is old age,” he said, smiling. “Sometimes you got to just take care of the body. Big picture, make sure you’re ready for the important times.”
Marchand has missed Canada’s past two games. Naturally, he wants in, but he’s happy to support his teammates.
“To be honest, coming in, I didn’t think I would be in the lineup,” Marchand said.
“I thought I would be an extra guy and be a voice and try to be loud and obnoxious in the room. So, I mean, I’m just so proud and honoured to be part of this group. It doesn’t matter if you get in the lineup or not. Everybody is just as important and has a role to play.”
Wilson held back in fight with Cronin
Speaking for the first time since Sunday’s scrap with France’s Pierre Crinon, which got both players ejected, Canadian winger Tom Wilson says he understood the suspension line.
“I was aware that as long as I didn’t take it too far, or he took it too far, that you should be good to play in the next game. So, obviously, when it started to get a little crazy there, he wasn’t stopping,” Wilson explained.
“There’s a certain level of having to defend yourself. And then once I kind of got around on top, I was like, OK, time to stop. It’s gone on far enough. And the linesmen were trying to do their job, and you just don’t want to get carried away. So, decided to stop at that point. I think it was good decision.”
Uh, yeah, probably.
Wilson maintained that Cronin’s hit on MacKinnon was “dirty” and that decisions must be made quickly when you engage with a big opponent.
“I mean, it’s fight or flight," he said. "At that point, you’re just kind of figuring out what you have to do. And, obviously, the game was kind of out of hand, so it wasn’t a big deal with five minutes left.
“I just wanted to stick up for our team.”
Wilson said he was surprised that Team France suspended Crinon after the IIHF had given the combatants a pass.
And France goalie Antoine Keller called Crinon’s internal suspension “a joke by the French federation.”
Let’s just say, Team Canada had zero debate whether to ban Wilson for his role in the dustup.
And Wilson maintained that, despite a few rule tweaks, Olympic hockey is the same sport he plays in the NHL.
“Every team is trying to hit us and come after us in their certain way. So, we have to stick up for each other. We have to stick up for our game,” Wilson said.
“I’m not focused on changing my style at all. I want to be hard to play against. I want to be up and down the ice. I want to be physical. I want to make space for my teammates. And if I have to stand up for them, obviously, stick up for my teammates and our country.
“It’s hockey. It's the greatest sport for a reason. Tensions get high. There’s a lot of emotion. And whatever happens out there, happens.”
One-Timers: Cooper on treating the quarterfinal like a Game 7: “I hate looking at it like that. Because now you don’t want to put any stress on yourself. You don’t want players playing the game not to make mistakes. I like our mentality. It’s not qualification or quarterfinal or whatever. You gotta win six. This is Game 4. Let’s go make the best.” … Marchand on Czech star David Pastrnak: “He’s become one of the top five players in the game.” … French goalie Julian Junca asked for Crosby’s stick in the handshake line following Sunday’s blowout, and he obliged because he’s Sidney freaking Crosby: “That’s part of hockey. You do that over the years, trade sticks and things, and it’s part of the experience.”
