Crosby expects ‘butterflies’ at start of 4 Nations Face-Off, set to play with McDavid

MONTREAL -- Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid were among a handful who participated in an optional morning skate prior to Canada’s first best-on-best game in nine years.

It spoke to the dedication and excitement of arguably the two most iconic players. Each chose to be on the ice, not only to work on their games but to start absorbing the vibe at Bell Centre, which is primed to be bonkers for the 4 Nations Face-Off opener against Sweden (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS).

As such, even the normally-composed Crosby admitted the nerves will be churning in his gut when he steps onto the ice.

“That’s part of the game, and these are the games you want to be part of as a hockey player,” said Crosby, the Canada captain. “And that’s a big part of it and why you put so much into it. You love it, and that’s why you put so much into these big games.

“I mean, I think there’s going to be anticipation, butterflies, all those things. That’s what makes these moments great.”

Crosby confirmed he received the final clearance to play Wednesday morning from the upper-body injury that caused the 37-year-old center to miss the Pittsburgh Penguins’ last two games prior to his arrival here Sunday. The ailment had improved enough to the point he’d already expected to play two days ago.

“Yeah, I’m playing,” he said. “I think it’ll be something that I’ll have a better idea of how it feels once I get into the flow of the game, as far as knowing what I can do out there. But I feel really good, really confident going into it. That’s the biggest part. Mentally, I feel really good about it.

“I haven’t played in a while (Feb. 4), so it’s nice to get out there. There’s worse places to have a morning skate than at the Bell Centre in a situation like this. I mean, this building, there’s a certain feel to it, with so much history. It’s just a hockey feel.”

The tournament, which features Canada, Sweden, Finland and the United States, runs through Feb. 20 in Montreal and Boston. It is the first best-on best competition featuring NHL players since the World Cup of Hockey 2016, and as such has been highly anticipated by the Canada players, including McDavid, who never has been part of a best-on-best international tournament at this level.

Crosby, who leads the Penguins this season with 58 points (17 goals, 41 assists) in 55 games, won a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in North Dakota and Minnesota, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2015 IIHF World Championship in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. He also captained his country to the title at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 in Toronto.

McDavid, who is tied for fourth in the NHL with 71 points (22 goals, 49 assists) in 49 games with the Edmonton Oilers, has represented Canada at the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, winning a gold medal; the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014 and 2015, winning gold in the second; and the IIHF World Championship in 2016 and 2018, taking home gold again in 2016. He also played for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

“He looks good,” Crosby said of McDavid. “He looks relaxed. He always seems relaxed. I think he’s excited to finally play in one of these things.

“He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. He’s always out there working on his game like he was today. He definitely doesn’t shy away from hard work, and it’s no fluke he’s the player that he is.”