Will Sidney Crosby play in gold medal game? Latest injury updates on Canada captain's status for Olympics final

Team Canada is one step closer to the top of the podium after a thrilling 3-2 semifinal victory over Finland, but they achieved the feat under the heavy shadow of an empty captain’s stall. Sidney Crosby, the heart of the Canadian roster, was forced to watch from the sidelines in Milan due to a lower-body injury, leaving a void that was felt both on the ice and in the locker room.

The injury occurred during Wednesday’s chaotic quarterfinal against Czechia, when Crosby took a pair of heavy hits in the second period. While Crosby managed to hobble to the bench, he was ultimately unable to return, leaving the team to navigate the remainder of the tournament without their on-ice general. In his absence, Connor McDavid stepped into the captaincy, wearing the "C" and leading by example with two assists to set a new Olympic scoring record.

As Canada prepares for Sunday’s gold-medal showdown against Team USA, the focus shifts entirely to Crosby’s recovery. While he was ruled out for the semifinal, Cooper has remained cautiously optimistic, stating that Crosby is "by no means ruled out of the tournament." Whether the "Golden Goal" hero of 2010 can return for one last stand remains the biggest question in hockey, but his teammates have ensured that if he is healthy enough to lace them up, a gold medal will be waiting for him on the line.

Here's the latest on the captain's status for Sunday's gold medal game.

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Will Sidney Crosby play in gold medal game?

As of right now, Sidney Crosby’s status for the gold medal game on Sunday, February 22, remains officially day-to-day.

Crosby is dealing with a lower-body injury (reportedly a right leg/knee issue) sustained in the quarterfinal against Czechia. Insiders like Elliotte Friedman noted that the team even tried to custom-build a brace to get him on the ice for the Finland game, showing just how close he is to a return.

If Crosby can physically manage the mobility required to be effective, he will almost certainly play. 

MORE: Canadians erase two-goal deficit, advance to gold-medal game

What happened to Sidney Crosby?

Crosby is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained during a grueling second period in Canada’s quarterfinal victory over Czechia. The injury appeared to occur in two stages: first, his right leg buckled awkwardly during a heavy collision with defenseman Radko Gudas, and moments later, he was caught in a sandwich hit against the boards by Gudas and Martin Necas. Although he attempted to stay on the ice for the remainder of the shift, the captain was clearly in significant pain and eventually limped to the locker room, never to return to the game.

The injury was severe enough to keep him out of the high-stakes semifinal against Finland, despite reports that the medical staff attempted to custom-build a knee brace to get him back into the lineup. However, Crosby has remained a constant presence in the locker room, providing veteran leadership and motivation that helped fuel Canada's comeback efforts in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

MORE: Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winner sends Canada to gold-medal

Sidney Crosby injury video

Crosby left the game in the second period after suffering a hit from Czechia's Radko Gudas. 

MORE: How Canada pulled off a stunning comeback against Finland

Sidney Crosby Olympic stats 

Crosby became Canada’s all-time leading Olympic scorer among NHL players during the 2026 Milan Games, surpassing Jarome Iginla's previous record of 14 points.

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