Sam Bennett Cleared to Play for Team Canada in Olympic Semifinal, Crosby’s Status Remains Uncertain

Team Canada forward Sam Bennett is expected to be available for Friday’s Olympic semifinal matchup against Finland, after recovering from an illness that kept him out of Wednesday’s quarterfinal win against Czechia. Still, the status of captain Sidney Crosby remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury sustained during the same game.

Bennett Overcomes Illness, Ready to Contribute

Bennett revealed on Thursday that he was sidelined against Czechia due to illness, according to TSN. He participated in Thursday’s optional skate and indicated he is feeling significantly better and prepared to fill any role required by the team.

“I’m feeling much better now and ready to play any role I’m called upon to fill,” Bennett said.

Crosby’s Injury a Concern for Team Canada

The biggest question mark for Team Canada heading into the semifinal is the health of captain Sidney Crosby. He left Wednesday’s game with an apparent lower-body injury and did not participate in Thursday’s skate.

Head coach Jon Cooper stated that Crosby is day-to-day and will not be risked if his health is compromised. NHL.com reports Cooper said, “We’re taking this day by day, and we’re not going to put anybody in harm’s way. But if he can play, he’s definitely going to. We’ll know more again in 24 hours.”

Potential Lineup Implications

If Crosby is unable to play, Bennett is likely to slot into the lineup as a center, providing much-needed depth. The Hockey News notes that Canada narrowly defeated Czechia in overtime and will need all available players to compete against Finland.

Defenceman Josh Morrissey may also return to the lineup on Friday after missing the past three games with an undisclosed injury.

Panthers Connection Adds Intrigue to Semifinal

The semifinal will feature a significant Florida Panthers connection, with Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and Brad Marchand of Team Canada facing off against Niko Mikkola, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen of Team Finland. Despite their camaraderie as teammates, both sides recognize the importance of the game and the shift in mindset required for international competition.

“We’re brothers. We’ve been playing for years together. We’ve been winning together. You know, we’ve been through it all together,” Lundell said. “But this is a different mindset. Now we’re enemies. Now we’re on different sides.”

Team Canada will face Team Finland on Friday at 10:40 a.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the championship game.