Canada Finland semifinal: Crosby ruled out as Canada presses for gold-game berth

Sydney’s absence is the headline: Sidney Crosby has been ruled out for Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey semifinal against Finland, a game that matters because Canada is seeking its first trip to the gold medal game since 2014 and Finland is aiming for its first berth since 2006. Canada Finland is on course to decide which nation advances while questions about lines, special teams and momentum remain.

What happened and what’s new — Canada Finland

Canada faces Finland in the men's hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics with Sidney Crosby unavailable following an injury sustained against the Czech Republic. In the early portion of the match, the opening period finished scoreless. Canada registered a higher share of scoring chances while Finland outshot Canada 7-3 in the first frame.

Individual moments noted in the period included Travis Sanheim creating pressure with multiple shots and nearly converting on a rebound behind Saros. Jon Cooper reverted to a top line featuring McDavid, Celebrini and MacKinnon, a combination dubbed the "Mach3" by Arpon Basu. Canada successfully killed a too-many-men penalty and prevented Finland from registering any shots on a Finnish power play; Finland's power-play success in the tournament stood at two-for-eleven at that point. Granlund nearly connected on a backdoor opportunity during the Finland power play but could not get a clean stick on the pass.

Lineup and role adjustments were visible. Bo Horvat, who arrived in Milan positioned as Canada’s top penalty-killing forward alongside Brandon Hagel, had limited involvement on the penalty kill after struggling on faceoffs and did not take ice time during one Finnish power play. Nick Suzuki skating with Hagel formed a primary unit in recent games. Observers noted Hagel's international expectations contrasted with a quieter performance in the early period, despite a strong season in Tampa Bay and earlier international standout play at the 4 Nations tournament.

Behind the headline

Context: Canada is pursuing a return to the Olympic gold-medal game for the first time since 2014; Finland is pursuing its first appearance in that deciding game since 2006. Crosby’s absence immediately removes Canada’s captain from the lineup and shifts decisions about top-line deployment and matchups. Coaches adjusted by consolidating their best offensive talent on the Mach3 line and re-evaluating penalty-kill roles.

Incentives and constraints: Canada needs to convert its territorial play into goals, while Finland has demonstrated stronger shooting volume early. Special-teams play is a clear pressure point for both sides: Canada defended a critical too-many-men sequence and killed a penalty, while Finland’s power play showed limited productivity in the tournament so far. Players with faceoff, defensive and net-front responsibilities — notably Horvat, Hagel and Sanheim for Canada; Rantanen, Aho and Granlund for Finland — hold leverage in short-game moments.

Stakeholders: Canada’s coaching staff and remaining top-line forwards must compensate for the absence of Crosby. Finland’s lines and top playmakers aim to exploit any disruptions. Tournament momentum and bench management will affect which team reaches the gold-medal game.

What we still don’t know

• Full status details of Sidney Crosby's injury and whether he will be available for any further action in the tournament (unconfirmed).
• How long Canada will keep its top offensive grouping intact and whether further line changes will follow the early period (unconfirmed).
• Whether Finland’s power play adjustments will produce shots or goals later in the game (open).
• How sustained offensive-zone time for Canada will translate into high-quality scoring chances against Finland’s defensive structure (open).

What happens next — scenarios and why it matters

• Canada converts its share of scoring chances into goals: If Canada turns territorial advantage and sustained pressure into a lead, its path to the gold-medal game becomes clearer; the Mach3 line’s performance will be decisive.
• Finland capitalizes on volume and special teams: If Finland continues to outshoot Canada and finds success on the power play, that could flip momentum and keep the Finnish bid for a first gold-game berth since 2006 alive.
• Defensive stands and special-teams lateness decide the game: Continued low-scoring play with tight penalty killing could result in a late-game or overtime decision, emphasizing faceoffs, matchups and net-front plays.
• Lineup adjustments shift dynamics: If Canada reshuffles roles—especially on the penalty kill—to replace Crosby’s presence, short-term cohesion might suffer or the team could find unexpected chemistry elsewhere.

Near-term impact: The outcome determines which nation advances to the Olympic gold-medal game and shapes roster and tactical narratives for the remainder of the tournament. For Canada, the match tests depth and adaptability without its captain; for Finland, it presents an opportunity to break a long absence from the deciding game. Observers should monitor power-play effectiveness, faceoff performance, and whether Canada’s scoring chances translate into goals.