Canada’s Morrissey and Marchand out, Thompson to start against Switzerland

Team Canada has lost a key blue-liner.

Josh Morrissey won’t suit up against Switzerland on Friday, one day after exiting against Czechia with an undisclosed injury. Brad Marchand will also get the day off, Team Canada announced.

Live coverage of the game begins at 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:20 p.m. PT on CBC Gem and Sportsnet+.

In their places, defenceman Travis Sanheim and forward Seth Jarvis will get their first taste of Olympic action.

Meanwhile, Logan Thompson will start on the second half of a back-to-back after Jordan Binnington blanked the Czechs in a 5-0 opening win on Thursday.

It is unclear how Morrissey, 30, was injured. He played one shift in the second period before exiting. The Winnipeg Jets defenceman has appeared in all 56 games for the NHL club this season, notching 10 goals and 32 assists.

Sanheim, 29, has six goals and 18 assists in 56 games for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was a member of Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off team last February, where he put up one assist in three games.

Marchand, 37, is among the oldest players on the team. He played just 9:29 against the Czechs, recording the primary assist on Bo Horvat’s second-period goal to go with two shots.

He’ll be replaced by Jarvis, who slotted in on the roster when Brayden Point was unable to attend the Games due to injury. The Carolina Hurricanes forward from Winnipeg has potted 25 goals in 49 games on the season.

Thompson, of Calgary, has been a steady contributor for the Capitals throughout the NHL season and leading into the Olympic break. The 28-year-old started all 39 games he’s played, posting a 19-16-4 record, 2.45 GAA, .912 save percentage and two shutouts.

Binnington, who led Canada to the 4 Nations title, made 26 saves in the shutout victory over the Czechs.

Canada owns a 9-1 record (0-1 in shootouts) all-time in the Olympics against Switzerland.