Canada’s Sidney Crosby a game-time decision ahead of Olympic gold medal game

Will Sid the Kid make a grand entrance on Sunday?

While talking to reporters on Saturday afternoon in Milan, Canada’s coach Jon Cooper said that Sidney Crosby will be a game-time decision after previously leaving Wednesday’s quarterfinal game with a suspected leg injury.

Crosby did not play in Canada’s 3-2 semifinal victory that sent the team to the final, with Sam Bennett re-entering the lineup after missing the previous game with an illness.

Crosby played just 4:41 of ice time across seven shifts before exiting the quarterfinal game. Canada was trailing Czechia 2-1 at the time. The Pittsburgh Penguins star had been having a great tournament heading into the knockout stage, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. He entered the quarterfinal in third in team scoring, trailing Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini.

Crosby has been a significant member of Canada’s success on the international stage over the past 16 years. Along with being the golden goal hero in 2010 in Vancouver, he’s helped Canada win gold again at the 2014 Winter Games. Additionally, Crosby took home the 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

The 38-year-old future Hockey Hall of Famer has 27 goals and 59 points in 56 games with the Penguins this season. He’s on pace for 87 points, which would mark the 15th time in his career that he surpassed the 80-point threshold. Crosby has 16 points in 17 career games at the Olympics, and another 39 points in 26 World Championship outings.

Canada will play the United States in the gold medal game at 8:00 AM ET on Sunday. Canada has won all previous medal-round games against the Americans, taking gold in 2002 and 2010. Canada also beat the U.S. to advance to the gold medal game in 2014, and edged them in overtime to take the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.