Canada is chasing Olympic gold without its captain.
A physical men’s hockey Olympic final began Sunday morning against america without Sidney Crosby, who’s out with a lower-body injury.
Six minutes into the primary period, Matthew Boldy scored the USA’s first goal of the sport on his team’s first shot.
Crosby sat out Canada’s 3-2 comeback win over Finland in Friday’s semifinal after his right leg bent awkwardly on a success within the quarterfinals against Czechia on the Milan Cortina Games.
Connor McDavid will function captain in Crosby’s absence for the second consecutive game.
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Crosby is already a two-time Olympic gold medallist. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain scored the famous additional time winner in Canada’s victory over america in 2010 and captained the country to a different title in 2014.
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NHL players didn’t take part in the 2018 and 2022 Games.
The 38-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., had two goals and 4 assists in 4 games in Milan. He holds the Canadian NHL-era record of 16 profession Olympic points.
Defenceman Josh Morrissey was ruled out with an upper-body injury. The Winnipeg Jets blueliner hasn’t played because the tournament opener within the preliminary round.
Canada holds a 15-game winning streak at NHL-attended games, dating back to a round-robin loss to the U.S. in 2010.
Canada also won last yr’s 4 Nations Face-Off — an Olympic appetizer — with an additional time victory in the ultimate against the Americans.
The U.S. thumped Slovakia 6-2 to advance to the gold-medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press