MILAN – Sidney Crosby hobbled down the tunnel favouring his right leg.
The Canadian captain had just been twisted like a pretzel on a clumsy hit early within the second period of what eventually become an exciting 4-3 additional time victory for his country against Czechia within the quarterfinals on the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The hockey power, with a nation holding its breath, didn’t have an update on Crosby’s status late Wednesday night amid the celebrations.
There was at the least some hope hours later the 38-year-old might still have an on-ice role to play for Canada on the Games.
Head coach Jon Cooper said following Thursday’s optional practice that Crosby has been “not at all” ruled out for Friday’s semifinal versus Finland.
“We’ve got the perfect of the perfect taking a look at him,” he said. “We’re taking at the present time by day … we’re not going to place anyone in harm’s way. But when he can play, he’s definitely going to.
“We’ll know more in 24 hours.”
Crosby was hurt when his leg bent in an unnatural direction after taking a success from Czech defenceman Radko Gudas.
The 2-time Olympic gold medallist got back to his skates, but wasn’t moving well before receiving more contact along the boards from Gudas and Czech forward Martin Necas.
Crosby then made his strategy to the bench and eventually the locker room with Canada’s medical staff, and didn’t return to the motion.
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“He’s still around and doing his leadership things,” said defenceman Drew Doughty, who topped the rostrum with Crosby in each 2010 and 2014. “But we’ve got tons of fellows that may step up and fill the leadership void.
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“It’s almost unattainable to fill the player void, but we’ll do our greatest.”
Star forward Nathan MacKinnon and depth option Brad Marchand, together with the No. 1 defence pair of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, were also absent from Thursday’s well-attended skate.
Fellow blueliner Josh Morrissey, who sat out the last three games with an undisclosed injury, took part within the session on the event’s predominant practice rink — a brief structure adjoining to Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
The US takes on Slovakia in Friday’s other semifinal ahead of Sunday’s gold-medal game.
Canada, meanwhile, can have to stitch the ‘C’ on one other jersey if Crosby is unable to play against Finland, with superstar centre Connor McDavid seemingly the almost definitely selection.
“Everybody’s different in their very own way,” McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers, said of leading. “Everybody goes about things otherwise. That being said, Sid’s an unbelievable leader, and everybody here watches him and is attempting to learn off him.”
Doughty was asked what Crosby, also a three-time Stanley Cup winner with a packed trophy case of non-public accolades that now includes the all-time national record for points by an NHLer on the Olympics, has meant to Canadian hockey over the past two-plus many years.
“I don’t even know what words to make use of,” the 37-year-old defenceman said of the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. “He’s the guy that showed all of the young guys — young players growing up — what it means to be Canadian, what it means to be a Canadian hockey player.
“I even feel that being a teammate of his … that just shows you the way special it’s.”
Whether or not Crosby, whose been centring a line with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, suits up Friday with a spot within the Olympic final on the road, Canada knows it must be loads higher than it was against Czechia.
The Canadians cruised to the No. 1 seed within the preliminary round, including a 5-0 victory over the Czechs, but were pushed to the limit Wednesday.
Nick Suzuki scored with 3:27 left in regulation to force additional time before Marner won it at 1:22 of the 3-on-3 extra period on a surprising individual effort to rescue the country from what would have equalled its worst showing at an NHL-featured Olympics — matching a disastrous 2006 ouster within the quarters.
Finland, meanwhile, got here back from a late 2-0 deficit Wednesday to get past Switzerland 3-2 in OT and advance.
“Your tournament type of flashes before your eyes,” McDavid said. “Makes you grateful for one more day here on this tournament, grateful for one more game. They feel the identical way, I’m sure. I do know we feel energized by it. I’m sure they do, too.”
Cooper expects an excellent tougher test within the semis.
“Dedicated group, they check, structured, world-class players,” he said. “I don’t care where you might be, what tournament it’s, the Finns all the time appear to be standing with regards to medal time.
“In the event you remotely take that team evenly, they’re going to bite you.”
And even when Crosby isn’t capable of make his race against the health clock, the hockey icon’s presence can be felt.
“He’s Sidney Crosby,” McDavid said. “He’s going to have a giant influence, regardless of what. Within the lineup, not within the lineup.
“That’s what he does.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press