Sidney Crosby, the esteemed captain of both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Team Canada, will miss Friday's crucial semifinal clash against Finland. Despite a valiant effort during a private skate session, Crosby's lower-body injury, sustained in the quarterfinals, has sidelined him.
The injury occurred after a tough hit from Czechia's Radko Gudas, followed by another collision with Martin Necas along the boards. Crosby's struggle to the bench and subsequent exit from the game signaled trouble for Team Canada.
In a bid to have their leader on the ice, Team Canada explored every avenue, even crafting a custom brace, as reported by Elliotte Friedman. However, the decision was made to prioritize Crosby's health and keep him out of the lineup.
Stepping into the leadership role, Connor McDavid will don the captain's "C," with Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon supporting as alternate captains. The stakes are high, as the winner of this matchup will face off against the victor of the USA-Slovakia game in Sunday's Gold Medal showdown.
Fans can catch the puck drop for the Canada-Finland game at 10:40 a.m. ET, as the battle for a spot in the finals intensifies.