Canada captain Sidney Crosby sits out Olympic gold medal game as Canada falls 2-1 to the U.S. in overtime
P. K. Subban discusses the impact of Sidney Crosby's absence after Canada’s gold medal loss to Team USA (1: 20). In Milan, sidney crosby — who suffered a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals — made the decision not to play in Sunday’s gold-medal game, and Canada lost 2-1 to the United States in overtime.
Sidney Crosby ruled out for gold-medal game
The announcement that Sidney Crosby would not play came about an hour before the start of the game. Crosby, the Canada captain, said he made the decision because he did not feel able to play. He explained that reaching the point of having to make that choice was unexpected after the Czechia game and praised the medical staff’s work while noting the decision was a tough one.
How the injury happened and the team’s efforts to return him
Crosby suffered the lower-body injury in the quarterfinals against Czechia. In that game he was struck along the boards in the second period by Martin Nečas and Radko Gudas; it was the third major hit he had taken that period. One play ended with Crosby trying to brace for a hit from Radko Gudas, his right leg bending awkwardly as Gudas toppled over him. He exited the ice, limped toward the locker room, and was ruled out of that quarterfinal game.
Imaging revealed that he avoided the worst-case scenario with the injury. Over the following days in Milan, Crosby did everything he could to return, including consulting with several experts on hand and skating in practice on both Friday and Saturday; he made no public statements because those practices were closed to media. Canada’s coach Jon Cooper had called him a game-time decision for the semifinal against Finland, but Crosby was ruled out of that semifinal and ultimately out of the gold-medal game.
Roster status, Olympic résumé and Milan performance
Crosby, the 38-year-old captain and the oldest player on Canada’s roster, has played in three Olympic Games for Canada and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, having won gold in Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. He scored Canada’s golden overtime goal in 2010 that sent Canada past the United States. In Milan, he recorded two goals and four assists, and he holds the Canadian NHL-era Olympic record with 16 total points.
Game highlights and teammates' reactions
Canada had multiple scoring chances in the gold-medal game but came up short. U. S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made key saves, including stopping attempts by Devon Toews and Connor McDavid that looked destined to go in. Nathan MacKinnon missed a gaping net. Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old, had six shots on goal, including a breakaway, but was unable to convert. Players described frustration at missed opportunities: MacKinnon said the team generated many looks but couldn't finish, and Celebrini said the group believed and that he missed his chances when they came.
After the loss, Crosby took the ice in his captain’s jersey to receive his silver medal alongside his teammates. Brad Marchand said the team felt bad letting a player of Crosby’s standing down and called him one of the best and one of the best leaders; Marchand expressed a wish that the team could have gotten it done for him. Drew Doughty added that Team Canada has nothing to hang its head about.
Leadership adjustments and immediate aftermath
Since Crosby’s injury, Connor McDavid has served as the playing captain and will again be the playing captain for Team Canada. Crosby acknowledged that it crossed his mind that the gold-medal game might be his final Olympic opportunity, but that consideration did not change the medical reality or his decision. The team’s recent history was noted: Canada beat the U. S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has won every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world’s best players.
What remains unclear
Details about the long-term outlook for Crosby’s injury are unclear in the provided context. Recent updates indicate he avoided the worst-case scenario on imaging, but further specifics and recovery timeline were not included in the available information.
