MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 15: Look on Team Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) during a 4 Nations Face-Off game between Team USA and Team Canada on February 15, 2025, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Sidney Crosby exits Canada’s quarterfinal win with lower-body injury
  • Crosby underwent MRI in Milan, status for semifinals uncertain
  • See video of the injury and full details on Canada’s comeback below

Sidney Crosby’s Olympics may be over.

The Team Canada captain left Wednesday’s quarterfinal game against Czechia in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Canada rallied for a 4-3 overtime win to advance to the semifinals, but Crosby’s status remains uncertain.

Crosby took multiple hard hits early in the second period with Canada trailing 2-1. He absorbed a check from Ondrej Palat, then got sandwiched between Radko Gudas and Martin Necas along the boards.

The collision caused Crosby’s right leg to buckle awkwardly beneath him. He struggled to get up and skated gingerly to the bench, putting almost no weight on his leg.

Video:

If the above video is geo-blocked in your region, the photos below can help paint a picture of what happened to Sid.

Photos:

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Crosby sat hunched over on the bench while trainers evaluated him. A few minutes later, he limped down the tunnel to the locker room. Hockey Canada ruled him out for the remainder of the game early in the third period.

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The 38-year-old underwent an MRI late Wednesday night in Milan to determine the severity of the injury. No official diagnosis or timeline has been announced.

“Right now, I don’t know,” head coach Jon Cooper said when asked about Crosby’s availability. “I don’t even have my poker face on either, because I honestly don’t know.”

Cooper added that the team would reevaluate Crosby’s status before Friday’s semifinal against Sweden.

Crosby’s injury forced immediate lineup changes. Nick Suzuki stepped in to center Mitch Marner and Mark Stone at even strength. Macklin Celebrini, the youngest player on the roster at 19, took over Crosby’s spot on the top power-play unit.

The adjustments paid off. Suzuki tied the game late in the third period with a deflection. Marner scored the overtime winner 1:22 into the extra frame, sending Canada to the semifinals.

Crosby had been having an excellent tournament. He entered Wednesday’s game with six points in four games, tied for third on the team in scoring. He set the Canadian record for most points by an NHL player at the Olympics with 16 career points during Sunday’s 10-2 win over France.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is the only player on Canada’s roster with two Olympic gold medals. He scored the iconic overtime winner against the United States in the 2010 Vancouver gold medal game and captained Canada to another gold in 2014 at Sochi.

At 38 years old and among the oldest active NHL players, this is likely Crosby’s final Olympics. The next Winter Games aren’t until 2030 in the French Alps, when Crosby will be 42.

Gudas, who delivered one of the hits that injured Crosby, expressed hope that the Canadian captain is okay.

“I was just trying to hold the red line,” Gudas said after the game.

Crosby remains one of the NHL’s elite players. He recorded 59 points in 56 games for the Penguins this season before the Olympic break, posting his 20th point-per-game season to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Canada faces Sweden in the semifinals on Friday in Milan. A gold medal game appearance would give Crosby at least one more chance to play at the Olympics.

Updates on Crosby’s status are expected before Friday’s game.

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