Canada Battles to Olympic Final Despite Crosby Injury, USA Dominates Slovakia
Canada secured a dramatic spot in the gold medal game of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, overcoming a 0-2 deficit against defending champions Finland without captain Sidney Crosby. The final score was 3-2, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring the winning goal in the final minute. The United States as well advanced to the final, defeating Slovakia 6-2.
Crosby’s Injury and Canada’s Resilience
Sidney Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the quarterfinal win against Czechia and did not play in the semifinal against Finland. Despite his absence, Canada demonstrated resilience, similar to their comeback in the quarterfinal. Canada outshot Finland 39-17, but faced a strong performance from Finnish goalie Juuse Saros.
McDavid Steps Up as Captain
With Crosby sidelined, Connor McDavid captained the Canadian team. He recorded two assists in the game, bringing his tournament total to 13 scorer points – a fresh Olympic record. He surpassed the previous record of 11 points held by Teemu Selänne, Saku Koivu, and previously McDavid himself in 2006.
Dramatic Finish and Penalty Call
Finland took an early lead with a power-play goal by Mikko Rantanen just seconds into the first period. Erik Haula extended the lead in the second period, but Sam Reinhart responded for Canada. Shea Theodore tied the game in the third period before MacKinnon’s late goal. The winning goal stood after a review for potential offside.
USA’s Dominant Performance
The United States had a commanding victory over Slovakia, winning 6-2. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring, followed by goals from Tage Thompson, Jack Hughes (two goals), Jack Eichel, and Brady Tkachuk. Juraj Slafkovsky and Pavol Regenda scored for Slovakia.
Looking Ahead to the Gold Medal Game
Canada will face the United States in the gold medal game on Sunday. Jon Cooper, Canada’s team coach, stated Crosby has a “better chance” of playing in the gold medal game than he did for the semifinal. Crosby previously won gold for Canada at the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympics.
FAQ
- Is Sidney Crosby expected to play in the gold medal game?
- Who is leading the scoring at the Olympics?
- What is the schedule for the remaining games?
Coach Jon Cooper has stated Crosby has a better chance of playing in the gold medal game than he did in the semifinal, but his participation is not confirmed.
Connor McDavid currently leads the tournament with 13 scorer points, setting a new Olympic record.
The gold medal game between Canada and the USA is on Sunday. The bronze medal game between Finland and Slovakia is on Saturday.
Pro Tip: Retain an eye on Connor McDavid. His performance is crucial to Canada’s chances of winning gold.
Stay tuned for updates on the gold medal game and the conclusion of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026!