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Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon emerged for Team Canada’s optional practice on Thursday as if it was any other day.

Naturally, they were first to arrive. Unnaturally, the duo might have some sort of superhuman work ethic.

Because Crosby and MacKinnon were the only skaters, aside from Canada’s healthy scratches, to brave a Montreal snowstorm and further hone their craft — when less than 12 hours earlier they were the last two players doing media availability until midnight following Canada’s thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Crosby had three assists in the game, including a helper on Mitch Marner‘s OT winner, and played 17:10. MacKinnnon scored one goal and played nearly 20 minutes. No matter. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia-bred teammates and close friends would not be denied a chance to improve further, even without a single coach on their section of the sheet. It was just a pair of superstars, doing drills and working on one-timers.

“Those two, they’re hockey junkies,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s really cool to be a part of this with them. Everything is about the game, and they talk about the game, they live the game, and you don’t see that a ton. When you rise to this level, you can have a tendency to take your foot off the gas or get used to the life. But those two, they don’t take it for granted.”

That’s especially true for Crosby, who almost missed the tournament entirely with an upper-body injury that forced him out of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ final two games before the NHL’s schedule broke for 4 Nations. Crosby had previously been named Team Canada’s captain, and he has acted as such by participating fully (and then some) in every team session.

“It’s his leadership, it’s unmatched,” said Crosby’s tournament teammate Sam Bennett. “He’s a true professional. He’s a guy that just loves the game. You can tell. He always wants to be out there and always wants to be around the guys. It’s pretty impressive to see firsthand. I’ve obviously idolized him my whole life, and to see how hard he works, it’s inspirational.”

MacKinnon kept Crosby company despite clocking the third-most minutes among Canada’s forwards in Wednesday’s win.

Cooper imagines that even if most of the team’s players weren’t there in person to see how some of the sports’ top talents stay at their peak, they’ll take something from the way Crosby and MacKinnon just can’t get enough of the grind.

“You can see players watch them,” Cooper said. “They watch what they do. I think when you leave these events, you’re going to take away the experience and the euphoria. But you hope you take away the example of what the leaders and the guys who really have a passion for this, how they act, how they conduct themselves.

“When they show up to the rink, what they do at the rink, how long they’re at the podium. When they stop and talk to fans on the street and all those things that just promote the wellness of the game, and those two guys have it.”

Canada will face Team USA on Saturday (8 p.m. ET on ABC).

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Tigers’ Baddoo to miss start of regular season

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Tigers' Baddoo to miss start of regular season

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand and will miss the start of the regular season.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Baddoo had more tests done after some continued wrist soreness since the start of spring training. Those tests revealed the hamate hook fracture in his right hand that was surgically repaired Thursday.

Baddoo, 26, who has been with the Tigers since 2021, is at spring training as a non-roster player. He was designated for assignment in December after Detroit signed veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to a $15 million, one-year contract. Baddoo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

Cobb is expected to miss the start of the season after an injection to treat hip inflammation that developed as the right-hander was throwing at the start of camp. He has had hip surgery twice.

Baddoo hit .137 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games last season. The left-hander has a .226 career average with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 340 games.

After the Tigers acquired him from Minnesota in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December 2020, Baddoo hit .259 with 13 homers, 55 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .330 on-base percentage in 124 games as a rookie in 2021. Those are all career bests.

Baddoo went into camp in a crowded outfield. The six outfielders on Detroit’s 40-man roster include three other left-handed hitters (Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows) and switch-hitter Wenceel Pérez. The other outfielders are right-handers Matt Vierling and Justyn-Henry Malloy.

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Dodgers’ Miller has no fracture after liner scare

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Dodgers' Miller has no fracture after liner scare

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller still had a bit of a headache but slept fine and felt much better a day after getting hit on the head by a line drive, manager Dave Roberts said Friday.

Roberts said he had spoken with Miller, who was still in concussion protocol after getting struck by a 105.5 mph liner hit by Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch in the first game of spring training Thursday.

The manager said Miller indicated that there was no fracture or any significant bruising.

“He said in his words, ‘I have a hard head.’ He was certainly in good spirits,” Roberts said.

Miller immediately fell to the ground while holding his head, but quickly got up on his knees as medical staff rushed onto the field. The 25-year-old right-hander was able to walk off the field on his own.

“He feels very confident that he can kind of pick up his throwing program soon,” said Roberts, who was unsure of that timing. “But he’s just got to keep going through the concussion protocol just to make sure that we stay on the right track.”

Miller entered spring training in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation. He had a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA over 13 starts last season, after going 11-4 with a 3.76 in 22 starts as a rookie in 2023.

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Brewers OF Perkins (shin) to miss start of season

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Brewers OF Perkins (shin) to miss start of season

PHOENIX — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins is expected to miss the first month of the season after fracturing his right shin during batting practice.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy revealed the severity of Perkins’ injury before their Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.

“They’re estimating another three to four weeks to heal and a ramp-up of four to six weeks,” Murphy said. “So you’re probably looking at May.”

Perkins, 28, batted .240 with a .316 on-base percentage, six homers, 43 RBIs and 23 steals in 121 games last season. He also was a National League Gold Glove finalist at center field.

“Perkins is a big part of our team,” Murphy said. “The chemistry of the team, the whole thing, Perk’s huge. He’s one of the most loved guys on the club, and he’s a great defender, coming into his own as an offensive player. Yeah, it’s going to hurt us.”

Murphy also said right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas has what appears to be a serious lat injury and is debating whether to undergo surgery. Bukauskas had a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances last year but missed much of the season with a lat issue.

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