Team Canada is moving on to the semifinals on the 2026 Winter Olympics. It took a late goal from Nick Suzuki and a Mitch Marner extra time winner to save lots of Canada against Czechia.
Through the game, captain Sidney Crosby was injured, and Team Canada’s coach Jon Cooper revealed Crosby was a part of his message to the team that inspired the comeback, in keeping with Kyle Bukauskas of Sportsnet.
“This may not be Sid’s last game on the Olympics,” Cooper said to his team.
Crosby didn’t return after being injured within the second period against Czechia. He was hurt on successful from Radko Gudas and couldn’t put weight on his right leg when coming off the ice. On the time of the hit, Canada was down 2-1.
The team would get a powerplay after the injury, with Macklin Celebrini taking Crosby’s spot on the powerplay unit. Celebrini assisted on Nathan MacKinnon’s powerplay goal that tied the sport. Still, the 2 teams can be tied, and without their captain, in the ultimate period.
Czechia took the lead within the third period, but a late Suzuki goal forced extra time, and Marner won the sport 1:22 into the extra time period.
Cooper didn’t have an update on the status of Crosby after the sport. Canada will return to the ice on Friday within the semifinals, but they don’t yet know their opponent. If the US defeats Sweden, it can face Finland. If Sweden wins, Canada will face Sweden.
Whatever the lead to the semi-final, Crosby can have no less than two more probabilities to play within the Olympics, with the Bronze medal game slated for Saturday and the gold medal game on Sunday.
Crosby played in each the 2010 and 2014 Olympics for Canada, but with NHL players not playing within the Games since 2014, those are his only two appearances. With the undeniable fact that he will probably be 42 when the 2030 Games in France happen, this is probably going his last likelihood to play on the Olympic stage.