Sidney Crosby ‘good to go’ for Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off

Sidney Crosby took ice with Canada’s national team in Montreal on Monday ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain missed his last two NHL games with an upper-body injury.

Now, it looks like he’s been given the go-ahead to play for Canada, telling reporters he is “good to go,” joining the team for its first game against Sweden on Wednesday

Daily Faceoff Live host Tyler Yaremchuk confirmed Crosby was taking shots during practice, as well. Several reporters said Crosby was centering a line with Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and Vegas Golden Knights’ forward Mark Stone.

Crosby also practiced on the first power-play unit with MacKinnon, Avalanche defender Cale Makar, Edmonton Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid and Florida Panthers’ forward Sam Reinhart.

Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Travis Konecny missed practice on Monday with an illness.

Crosby will serve as captain for Canada at the tournament, the fourth time he’s held the honor. Crosby was captain at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the 2015 World Championship and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Canada won gold in all three previous events.

Crosby was named tournament MVP at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the last time the NHL sent players to a best-on-best international competition. He also won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, with his overtime, gold-medal winning goal against the U.S. in 2010 becoming one of the most popular moments in Canadian hockey history.

In 55 regular-season games this season, the 37-year-old Crosby has 17 goals and 41 assists for 58 points, which leads the Penguins. Now in his 20th NHL season, Crosby has 609 goals and 1,045 assists for 1,654 points. He ranks 11th on the NHL’s all-time assists list and ninth on the all-time points list.