Sam Bennett and Josh Morrissey and Darcy Kuemper will sit out Team Canada’s quarter-final against Czechia on Wednesday as scratches.
The trio were the only members of Team Canada to take a morning skate ahead of the game, spending close to 30 minutes on the ice.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports Bennett and Morrissey need “a couple more days to get back to playing form.” The Olympic semifinals are scheduled for Friday.
Nathan MacKinnon will play in the quarter-final after an injury scare late in Canada’s win over France Sunday and a missed skate due to maintenance Tuesday.
Brad Marchand will replace Bennett in the lineup after sitting out the past two games.
Jordan Binnington will make his third start of the tournament for Canada, with Logan Thompson backing him up.
Jiri Tichacek, Radek Faksa and Karel Vejmelka are out for Czechia.
You can watch the quarter-final game LIVE on TSN1 at 10:40am ET/7:40am PT.
Bennett also missed practice on Tuesday for maintenance. A late injury replacement for Anthony Cirelli ahead of the tournament, Bennett has served largely as the 13th forward in the first three games, posting one assist.
Morrissey has missed the past two games after sustaining an undisclosed injury in Canada’s first game. Travis Sanheim has entered the lineup in his place.
Morrissey was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and head coach Jon Cooper said he expected to have all players available, but would need to check with the defenceman first.
“That was a big thing for him to get out here,” Cooper said. “We’ll see.”
Binnington recorded a shutout against Czechia in a 5-0 win for Canada in the opening game for both teams last week. Binnington also started Sunday’s 10-2 win over, making 12 saves on 14 shots.
Thompson started one game in the preliminary round, turning aside 24 of the 25 shots he faced in a win over Switzerland.
The tournament will reseed for the semifinals with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed. Canada exited the group round as the top seed, with Team USA second.