Sidney Crosby to face Sweden in 4 Nations opener

Pittsburgh Penguins icon and captain of Team Canada, Sidney Crosby (37), is set to participate in the opening match of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Wednesday, despite contending with an arm injury.

Crosby missed the last two games for the Penguins prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off, raising concerns about his availability. However, he has expressed his eagerness to compete.

In preparation for the upcoming game, Crosby was observed practicing alongside teammates Mark Stone and Nathan MacKinnon. He also participated in a dynamic power play unit that included Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart, and MacKinnon.

This event marks the first occasion that Crosby and McDavid will play together for Team Canada, as the NHL did not take part in the 2018 and 2022 Olympics.

Currently, Canada is favored to win the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off with odds of +145, followed by the U.S. at +500, Sweden at +420, and Finland as the underdog at +1000, according to Fan Duel Sportsbook.

For the matchup on Wednesday, Team Canada (-1.5) is favored over Team Sweden, with the over/under set at 5.5 as of Monday evening.