Canada gives hopeful update about Crosby's status ahead of Olympic gold medal game
If there’s one player you’d want out on the ice in a gold medal game, there aren’t many people you’d choose over Sidney Crosby.
Yet, the 38-year-old’s status for Sunday’s epic matchup is still firmly in doubt.
However, there was a give of a good news update following Canada’s practice on Saturday from head coach Jon Cooper.
“There’s a chance [he plays tomorrow],” Cooper said after practice. “He skated today, which was the plan all along.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday that Team Canada did “everything humanly possible for him to play,” however, he was eventually sidelined for the semi-final win over Finland.
Friedman also said that Canada attempted to search for and put together a custom brace for Crosby’s injured leg.
“We’re gonna meet tonight and make a determination to see if he plays tomorrow,” Cooper said on Saturday.
“Earlier game tomorrow…I guess this is what they call a game-time decision.”
Even though Crosby didn’t play on Friday, he was still involved with the team. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported that the Canadian captain went to his team’s dressing room during the second intermission, when Canada was trailing 2-1.
Of course, they dominated in the third period, outshooting Finland 17-6 while pulling away with the 3-2 win.
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Rishaug also reported on Saturday that Crosby’s chances of playing are in the “70 per cent range.”
With Crosby sidelined, Connor McDavid wore the ‘C’ in his place. As McDavid said after the win on Friday, he was keeping the captain’s letter warm for Crosby’s return.
Even if Crosby is able to go, perhaps we see a situation like with Victor Hedman earlier in this tournament, where he suits up but doesn’t actually see the ice.
Or, if he’s not close to 100 per cent but on the bench, perhaps he’ll have his Steven Stamkos moment. The former Tampa Bay Lightning forward famously scored in one of his five total shifts during his team’s Stanley Cup triumph over the Dallas Stars in 2020.
You’d have to imagine that it will be hard to keep Crosby out of the lineup. There’s a real chance that this is his last Olympic Games. And of course, he scored one of the most legendary goals in Canada’s history against the United States in the 2010 gold medal game.