As the Olympic stage sets for a thrilling finale, all eyes are on Sidney Crosby and whether he'll lace up for Team Canada in the Gold Medal showdown. Crosby, the heart and soul of the team, missed the semifinal against Finland due to a lower-body injury he sustained in the quarterfinals against Czechia. The big question now is whether he'll be ready to lead his team tomorrow.
TSN's Ryan Rishaug has given hope to fans, suggesting there's a "70% chance" Crosby will hit the ice. Head coach Jon Cooper and his staff are keeping a close watch, evaluating Crosby's performance in practice and assessing his readiness for the big game.
For Crosby, this might be the last time he dons the Olympic jersey, making it almost unthinkable for him not to play. Even if it means taking inspiration from Victor Hedman, who stayed on the bench for Team Sweden despite an injury, Crosby's determination to contribute could see him participate in some capacity.
In other Olympic news, Team Canada will be without defenseman Josh Morrissey for the Gold Medal clash. Initially, there was optimism about his return from an upper-body injury, but Mike McIntyre of The Winnipeg Free Press confirmed Morrissey has been ruled out.
When asked about Morrissey's condition, Coach Cooper simply stated, “No. With all due respect to Winnipeg.”
Meanwhile, for Team USA, Tage Thompson is back in action. After leaving the previous game as a precaution, Thompson joined practice today, signaling his readiness for tomorrow. He's been a standout performer, tallying three goals and four points over five games with a solid +3 rating.
In the Bronze Medal matchup, Slovakia faced Finland without Martin Pospisil. The Slovakian forward has been grappling with a persistent injury throughout the tournament, a worrying continuation of the issues that sidelined him during the 2025-26 season. Pospisil wrapped up his Olympic run with one assist in six games.
As the Olympic hockey drama unfolds, these developments set the stage for an unforgettable conclusion to the tournament. Fans across the globe will be eagerly watching to see how these narratives play out on the ice.