Crosby practices with Team Canada, could play in gold medal game against U.S.

Crosby has been around the team since his injury, addressing the group and talking 1-on-1 with players about what he is seeing.

“He’s been extremely positive,” center Connor McDavid said. “Still contributing even though he didn’t play last game. Still being the leader he is.”

McDavid wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence Friday and likely would do so again if he can’t play Sunday. International Ice Hockey Federation rules stipulate teams must have a player wearing the “C” in every game.

“We definitely wanted to give him an opportunity to play one more,” McDavid said. “We’ve done that and we’ll see.”

Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey has been ruled out of the gold medal game, Cooper said.

Morrissey hasn’t played since Canada’s tournament opener against Czechia on Feb. 12, when he sustained an undisclosed injury.

He appeared to be getting better and was skating in practice, but Cooper said he is not capable of helping Sunday, so he won’t play.

“We want Josh in this game and he helps us, but in the end if you’re not physically able to do it … ” Cooper said. “The one selfless thing about this team and the way I’ve watched these players, and it goes right down to Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, when it comes to the flag nobody is getting in the way.

“If they’re not capable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country at harm. They understand what we have here. Josh, in the end, he just wouldn’t be able to perform at what he could, so we had to make the decision.”

Morrissey also could not play against Team USA in championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off last year because he was sick.

“This is a year now we’ve had the same conversation,” Cooper said, “and I feel for him because he’s just an all-world kid and a hell of a hockey player.”