Coming into today’s Gold Medal final between Team USA and Team Canada from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, there was one star player’s status that was up in the air. Sidney Crosby had suffered some sort of lower-body injury in Canada’s quarterfinal game against Team Czechia. Now we have learned that he is not well enough to suit up for today’s game. This is tough news for Canada as they are set to square off against USA in the Gold Medal final.
🇨🇦 Canada lineup submitted to IIHF:
Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon
Marner-Suzuki-Stone
Marchand-Bennett-Wilson
Hagel-Horvat-Jarvis
ReinhartToews-Makar
Harley-Parayko
Sanheim-Doughty
TheodoreBinnington
ThompsonOUT: Crosby (inj.), Morrissey (inj.), Kuemper
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 22, 2026
Ahead of Gold Medal game, a Sidney Crosby Injury Update
Leading up to today’s game, after having not been able to go in the semifinals against Finland, he had been considered a game time decision. But now the official word is in.
Canada has had to shift around their lines in Crosby’s absence. Most notably, with a late game-tying goal against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals, Nick Suzuki has risen to the occasion. He has also slid into Crosby’s role, centring Mitch Marner and Mark Stone. That has been a line that can do it all offensively, and takes care of things defensively, if need be.
It has exposed Canada’s unfortunate luck with injuries, particularly to centres. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli are both centres, who were both ruled out before the start of the Olympics. Their replacements were Seth Jarvis, who’s a winger, but luckily, Bennett, is a centre. Sam Bennett has been needed to fill that void, left by Crosby’s absence. His play in the bottom six today, will be crucial.
Another Injury Update for Team Canada
There was other injury news from Canada, that was passed along by head coach Jon Cooper yesterday. Defenceman Josh Morrissey, who has only played in one Canadian game these Olympics, was ruled out for today. The word had been he could return to action, but was never able to, in the end. Canada certainly could use his puck moving abilities from the backend. However, they have managed without it thus far, and have plenty of competent defencemen to step up. One of the most impressive d-men for Canada this tourney is Thomas Harley. The Dallas Star rearguard has shown an aptitude for big games. Moreover, today’s will be the ultimate test.
No player on Team USA's roster has scored more career NHL goals against Jordan Binnington than Kyle Connor (15)
He's not in today's lineup
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 22, 2026
The game is set for 8:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, buckle up across North America, and around the collective hockey world.
Main Photo Geoff Burke Imagn Images
