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The prospect of a serious Sidney Crosby injury could keep the Team Canada captain out of the lineup, per an expert medical opinion.
The prospect of a Sidney Crosby injury has sent shockwaves throughout Canada, leaving fans gasping for breath amid the elation of a 4-3 overtime victory over Czechia.
Crosby left Wednesday’s game against Czechia in the third period following an awkward collision with Radko Gudas. The replay showed Crosby falling awkwardly on his right leg, prompting him to skate one-legged to the bench.
The two-time gold medalist winced in pain on the Team Canada bench, eventually heading down the tunnel for further medical attention. He did not return for the remainder of the game.
Now, questions swirl regarding the extent of this unfortunate Crosby injury. One notable medical expert, Dr. Harjas Grewal, weighed in on the matter, positing that an MCL injury could be the case for Crosby.
While the injury may not be overly serious, this Crosby injury could mean he’s likely done for the remainder of the Olympics.
Concern would be an MCL injury for Crosby
Majority are longer than day-to-day timelines so his tournament may be over 😢
Considering that the timeline is beyond day-to-day, Team Canada will have to play without Crosby in their semi-final game. The loss of their captain will be a tough blow for the Canadian side. But as Mitch Marner’s heroics proved, the stacked Canadian side has plenty of heroes to go around.
Canada will face Finland in the Olympic semi-finals. The Canadian squad will be looking to win one more shot at a gold medal for the ageless captain.
What Does Crosby Injury Mean for Canada?
Team Canada coach Jon Cooper will now have to juggle his lines for the semi-final game against Finland. While Canada is an uber-deep side, the line-juggling will require some creativity.
In the quaterfinal game against Czechia, Cooper threw Connor McDavid on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson. That put Crosby on the third line with Mark Stone and Marner. That elite defensive line will change as a result of the Crosby injury.
There’s a good chance that Bo Horvat could take over that line, playing with Marner and Stone. Alternatively, another hero from Wednesday’s showdown, Nick Suzuki, and his Selke Trophy skills, could take over that line.
It will be interesting to see what Cooper decides, considering the top-heavy firepower that Finland possesses.
Could Crosby Return for the Gold Medal Game?
That prospect would all depend on how bad the Crosby injury truly is. Assuming that it looked much worse than it really was, Crosby might play in the final.
Even if he wasn’t 100%, there’s a reason why Crosby could still suit up. International rules allow teams to dress 13 forwards and seven defensemen. As such, Team Canada could give Crosby about three days to recover from the injury. If he’s well enough, the captain could be the 13th forward in Sunday’s gold-medal matchup.
That wouldn’t be the end of the world for Team Canada. Since Canada is an NHL-minded team, it wouldn’t be a problem to play with four lines and cycle Crosby in whenever possible. That may be a solution unless the Crosby injury were so severe that the veteran captain could not hit the ice.
The next couple of days will determine the outcome of Crosby’s participation in the Olympic final.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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