MILAN — Sidney Crosby is not playing for Canada against Finland in the Olympic semifinals Friday because of an injury.
Crosby appeared to injure his right knee in the second period of the quarterfinal against Czechia on Wednesday. The 38-year-old captain did not practice Thursday, when coach Jon Cooper said Crosby still was being evaluated.
Sam Bennett, who was sick but now is good to go, took Crosby’s spot in the lineup. It was not immediately clear if Crosby would be available if Canada advances to the gold-medal game Sunday.
Connor McDavid is wearing the “C” because international rules require a player to be designated captain for each game. Nathan MacKinnon joined Cale Makar as alternate captains.
Crosby is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2010 and ‘14) and a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Defenseman Josh Morrissey, who hasn’t played since getting injured in Canada’s tournament opener Feb. 12, is also out.
Finland made a change with its forwards, bringing in Oliver Kapanen and scratching Eeli Tolvanen. Kapanen missed the preliminary-round finale against Italy on Sunday while being isolated because roommate Anton Lundell contracted norovirus.
Lundell returned in the quarterfinals and assisted on the overtime goal to beat Switzerland.