Canada captain Sidney Crosby a game-time decision for gold medal hockey game vs Team USA

Team Canada whitethorn person a large boost to their lineup successful their Olympic golden medal matchup against Team USA successful men’s hockey connected Sunday: the imaginable instrumentality of skipper Sidney Crosby.

Crosby, 38, did not play successful Canada’s 3-2 semifinal triumph against Team Finland connected Friday aft sustaining a lower-body wounded successful the quarterfinals against Czechia, but did skate during signifier connected Saturday. Canada caput manager Jon Cooper said Crosby volition beryllium a game-time decision.

"We’ll see," Cooper said, according to NHL.com. "I watched him skate today. I haven't spoken to him yet. We're going to conscionable contiguous and person a determination of what's going to hap tomorrow.

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Sidney Crosby of Team Canada reacts during the men’s crystal hockey quarterfinal crippled betwixt Canada and Czechia connected time 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games astatine the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena. Milan, Italy, connected Feb. 18, 2026. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

"He won't enactment himself successful harm's way. He's not going to enactment the squad successful harm's way. Obviously, we'd emotion to person him, but that determination volition beryllium made tonight."

Cooper insisted that Crosby volition not play unless helium is capable to interaction the team.

"It's excessively important and we don't person idiosyncratic successful determination arsenic an inspiration erstwhile we could person a subordinate susceptible of helping, and you ne'er cognize if guys are going to get wounded successful the game," Cooper said. "He wouldn't privation to bash that either."

TEAM USA TO BATTLE CANADA FOR OLYMPIC GOLD AFTER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AGAINST SLOVAKIA

Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) is attended to aft being injured during the 2nd play of a men's crystal hockey quarterfinal crippled betwixt Canada and Czechia astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, connected Feb. 18, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)

The International Ice Hockey Federation states that teams indispensable person a subordinate wearing the "C" connected their jersey. With Crosby retired against Finland, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid wore the "C" successful Crosby’s place.

McDavid said the squad wanted to springiness Crosby an accidental to play connected Sunday aft missing the semifinal.

"We decidedly wanted to springiness him an accidental to play 1 more," McDavid said, according to NHL.com. "We've done that and we'll see."

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Canada's Connor McDavid wears the squad captain's missive C connected his jersey successful spot of the injured Sidney Crosby during the 2nd play of a men's crystal hockey semifinal crippled against Finland astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics successful Milan, Italy. Milan, Italy, connected Feb. 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

McDavid said Crosby has been "extremely positive" and has inactive contributed to the squad contempt not playing.

On the different hand, Team USA’s Tage Thompson was connected the crystal for the team’s skate connected Saturday aft leaving the team’s 6-2 triumph implicit Team Slovakia successful the 3rd play connected Friday. Thompson was held retired of the 3rd play for precautionary reasons.

The highly anticipated golden medal lucifer is astatine 8:10 a.m. ET connected Sunday.

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