Crosby Out of Gold Medal Game Suddenly Makes Team Canada the Underdog

Team Canada skated into the Olympic gold-medal game without its captain. And for a game that was already going to be filled with emotion, this 12-year-in-the-making match-up just added another layer. A “win for Sid” motto will be trending, and the Canadians, now led by Connor McDavid, will embrace it.

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Crosby’s lower-body injury—sustained earlier in the tournament—has ruled him out of the showdown against the United States. Technically, he probably could have gone. He chose not to. Crosby met with the coach and doctors for about 45 minutes, and at the end of the day, he felt it was best for the team that he should give that opportunity to someone else. Obviously, a very difficult decision for him; it shows the character he has of stepping aside because he didn’t think he could be at his best, to give us an opportunity.

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Chris Johnston wrote, “The hockey world has long known what Sidney Crosby is all about, but you won’t find a better example of his selflessness than his decision to sit out today’s Olympic gold-medal final rather than forcing it while injured.”

Crosby Sitting Out Last Chance To Play in the Olympics

For Sid, this was likely his final Olympic opportunity. Still, he made the selfless act not to go unless he knew he could give the team his all. His belief was that a half-effective Crosby wouldn’t be as useful as a player selected for the team who was at full strength.

That’s not to say it won’t hurt. Crosby’s Olympic legacy is built on rising in the biggest moments. Canadians don’t need to be reminded of how much he’ll be missed in this game. The Golden Goal became part of Canada’s DNA. Now, it will be up to another player to provide that kind of moment, if needed. Given how close the Olympic elimination games have been, it might be.

The leadership mantle shifts to stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon—players who grew up watching Crosby. Young talents such as Macklin Celebrini and Nick Suzuki will also be stepping into a much brighter spotlight. Tom Wilson, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett will have to set a tone in a different way.

Tom Wilson lowers the BOOM on Dylan Larkin 😳 pic.twitter.com/bgdGcFgdzg

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 22, 2026

Is Team Canada the Underdog?

Down 1-0 in the first six minutes of the game — thanks to a goal by Matt Boldy — there’s an underdog energy to this matchup now. The Americans will try to take advantage of the absence of Crosby. The Canadians will try to rally around his absence. Will the emotional fuel and the desire to win gold, not just for themselves, but arguably the greatest Canadian hockey player to play in the Olympics, be enough?

If Canada wins, it will instantly become folklore—the gold they captured for their captain and for the country. Playing well and outplaying the Americans early, they’re already dealing with an early deficit.

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