Sidney Crosby gingerly stepped on the ice. The television cameras perched in the stands followed his every move.
A major injury concern ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Canada’s captain gently stickhandled before firing some pucks on net.
He was with his teammates for their first practice. Big questions also remained about the 37-year-old star’s health with a short runway.
Crosby answered any doubts moments later once the high-paced drills got going.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion will suit up for his country at the showcase event after being felled by an upper-body ailment last week that cost him two games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Met with a couple different doctors,” Crosby said of getting greenlighted. “I’ve talked to docs here and had some good dialogue with the coaches.
“There’s been a lot of questions. A lot of, ‘How are you feeling?’ … I’m excited just to get into …