Star forward Nathan MacKinnon and centre Sam Bennett were both absent from Canada’s practice Tuesday with the quarter-finals awaiting on Wednesday at the Winter Olympics.
Hockey Canada said it was a maintenance day for both players.
Defenceman Josh Morrissey and forward Brad Marchand were both on the ice for the session and took part in line rushes.
MacKinnon appeared to injure his knee delivering a hit late in Canada’s 10-2 win over France on Sunday. He also took a high hit behind the France net earlier in the period. He has two goals and five points through three games.
Connor McDavid centred the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson during Tuesday’s skate, with Marchand on a line with Bo Horvat and Seth Jarvis, Sidney Crosby centering Mitch Marner and Mark Stone and Nick Suzuki working between Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart
Morrissey skated with Colton Parayko,which is apositive sign hinting towards a return on Wednesday. Travis Sanheim, who replaced Morrissey in the lineup after his injury, worked with Shea Theodore in the bottom pairing.
Lines at 🇨🇦 practice
Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Marner – Crosby – Stone
Hagel – Suzuki – Reinhart
Marchand – Horvat – Jarvis
Toews – Makar
Morrissey – Parayko
Harley – Doughty
Sanheim – Theodore
Binnington
Thompson
Kuemper
Absent: MacKinnon, Bennett@TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 17, 2026
Bennett, a late injury replacement for Anthony Cirelli ahead of the tournament, has served largely as the 13th forward in the first three games. He has one assist at Milano Cortina 2026.
Both Morrissey and Marchand missed the final two preliminary games after playing in Canada’s opener against Czechia last week. Morrissey has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, while Marchand’s status has been unclear.
Head coach Jon Cooper said Sunday after Canada’s blowout win over France that Marchand would be in the lineup for their quarter-final.
Canada will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between Czechia and Denmark in their quarter-final game.
More details to follow.