The Canadian national ice hockey team may have paid dearly for its quarterfinal victory against the Czech Republic. In the narrow 3-2 overtime win, superstar Sidney Crosby from the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins was so badly injured that it seemed unlikely that he would play in the semifinals against Finland. Now head coach Jon Cooper gave a very promising update.
Accordingly, the 38-year-old was “definitely not eliminated from the Olympic tournament.” This means that at the latest in the final or the game for third place, the top favorite for Olympic gold will probably be able to rely on the top performer who suffered an injury to his right leg on Wednesday evening.
“We have the best of the best looking after him,” explained Cooper, who added that they would “decide day by day” about Crosby’s deployment: “We won’t put anyone in danger. But if he can play, then he definitely will. We’ll know more in 24 hours.” Canada continues in the semi-final against Finland on Friday (4:40 p.m.).
Olympics: Crosby wins third gold medal
The Pittsburgh Penguins center received two checks from Radko Gudas and Martin Necas in the second period of the 4-3 overtime win in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic and then had to leave the ice. Crosby has 6 scorer points so far (2 goals, 4 assists). The man from Nova Scotia wants to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games for the third time after 2010 and 2014.
Crosby lived up to his role as the leader of perhaps the best Canadian team in Olympic history, even though he was injured. Cooper revealed that the veteran gave a speech to his teammates before the final third to get them in the mood for the last 20 minutes. There, Canada barely managed to escape into overtime after being behind for a while.
Cooper said the team made it their mission to ensure that Crosby did not have to come off the ice injured in what was likely his last Olympic appearance.