Canada’s motivation in second intermission after Crosby injury: ‘This will not be Sid’s last game at the Olympics’
As if a narrow 4-3 overtime win over Czechia wasn’t enough to send Canada into a panic, the team also lost their captain and one of their more iconic stars, as Sidney Crosby left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.
However, Canada was not fazed. Even as Crosby was announced out for the rest of the game, and they were tied 2-2 in the second period, they weren’t going to be buried.
After the thrilling win, Cooper shared with the media what was talked about in the Canadian locker room during the second intermission.
“This will not be Sid’s last game at the Olympics.”
Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on Crosby but he did say much of the talk in the room in the 2nd intermission among the players was: “This will not be Sid’s last game at the Olympics.”
Cooper did not provide an update on whether or not Crosby will be able to return for Canada’s semi-final matchup on Friday or whichever medal match they end up in over the weekend. However, the message was clear for Canada: they did not want to lose to Czechia and have that potentially be Crosby’s last game at the Olympics.
And they certainly achieved that. While there was another scare late in the third, as Ondrej Palat scored with less than eight minutes left in the game to pull ahead 3-2, Canada tied the game with a Nick Suzuki deflection with three and a half minutes left, and then Mitch Marner finished the job 1:22 into overtime. With the win, it guarantees two more games for Canada, and a strong chance for another medal.
Crosby injured himself in the second period when a collision with Radko Gudas caused him to fall awkwardly on his leg. He skated gingerly to the bench, went to the dressing room shortly after that, and then was later confirmed to be out for the rest of the game. There’s no confirmation whether or not he will return to the tournament for either remaining game for Canada.
There also hasn’t been any indication about whether or not this is Crosby’s last Olympic tournament. Now 38 years old, it is a likely possibility he retires before the 2030 tournament in the French Alps. But his passion for hockey could very well keep him in the game for that long.
If this is Crosby’s last Olympic game, he’s established an excellent legacy while wearing the red-and-white Leaf. He’s participated in three tournaments, and has won gold medal twice with the potential for a third this weekend. He has seven goals and 16 points in 17 games with Canada, highlighted by his gold medal-winning goal in 2010.
Crosby has two goals and six points in four games thus far in the 2026 tournament.