Sidney Crosby IN for Team Canada, 4 Nations

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby told a throng of reporters Monday that he is good to go for Team Canada and will participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off, a tournament of NHL players featuring teams from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland.

Crosby, who missed the past two Penguins games leading into the NHL’s break for the tournament, practiced with Team Canada earlier Monday in Montreal. Canada’s first game is Wednesday against Sweden. Penguins Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell are on Sweden’s roster.

“I’ve talked to the docs here (with Team Canada),” Crosby said. “Had some good dialog with the coaches and seeing where I was at. … There’s been a lot of questions, a lot of how-are-you-feeling the past five days. I’m excited just to get back into a routine here and get back to normal.”

Reports from Montreal noted that Crosby centered a line with fellow Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado and Mark Stone of Vegas. Crosby also was on a potent-sounding power-play unit with MacKinnon. Cale Makar, Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart.

Last Tuesday, Crosby left a game against New Jersey after getting his left arm crunched between two Devils players. He returned to finish the game, but the next day he was held out of Penguins practice, and coach Mike Sullivan said he was being evaluated for an injury.

Crosby worked out separately from practice Thursday, then took part in the Penguins’ optional morning skates Friday and Saturday but did not play in games those nights. Sullivan said Crosby had a long workout Saturday morning, and called that encouraging.

It has been about 8 1/2 years since Crosby last represented Canada, dating to when he helped lead his native country to the championship of the 2016 World Cup. He famously scored the Golden Goal in overtime against the United States in the gold medal game of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and also won gold with Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

“This is an awesome opportunity, something I haven’t done in a long time,” Crosby said. “I wanted to be part of this group, and also wanted to make sure that I can play at the level that you need to compete here.”

Crosby was one of the initial players named to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he was named team captain a couple weeks ago.