Canada may have to win without captain Sidney Crosby to achieve the Olympic gold-medal game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar was scratched from Canada’s lineup with a lower-body injury ahead of its men’s hockey semifinal Friday against Finland on the Milan Cortina Games.
Connor McDavid will function captain in Crosby’s absence.
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Crosby exited Canada’s nail-biting extra time win over Czechia within the quarterfinals after his right leg crumpled as he braced for a neutral-zone hit from bruising defenceman Radko Gudas within the second period.
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The 2-time Olympic gold medalist played one other 13 seconds before Gudas and Czech forward Martin Necas sandwiched him along the boards. One stride later, he circled back to the bench in noticeable discomfort before limping down the tunnel.
The US and Slovakia face off in the opposite semifinal later Friday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The bronze-medal game is scheduled for Saturday, followed by Sunday’s matchup for gold.
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