Sidney Crosby breaks silence on missing Olympic final against Team USA

Heart Sidney Crosby needs he have been wholesome sufficient to play on Sunday in opposition to Staff USA on the Milan Cortina Olympics, particularly after Staff Canada did not seize the gold medal. 

The USA beat the Canadians, 2-1, in an time beyond regulation thriller after heart Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) nailed the successful objective. It is the primary time the Individuals have received the gold medal in males’s hockey for the reason that 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Canada, in the meantime, hasn’t captured gold for the reason that 2014 Sochi Video games. 

Earlier than Sunday’s sport, Staff Canada head coach Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning) steered Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) could also be accessible for the gold-medal matchup. The 38-year-old heart, nevertheless, felt that not sitting out might harm his workforce’s probabilities of successful. 

Sidney Crosby expands on why he did not play in gold-medal sport 

“It may need crossed my thoughts a little bit bit, however finally I feel it was about what’s greatest for our group and what offers us the perfect likelihood to win,” Crosby stated, per The Athletic’s Arpon Basu. “I feel, yeah, that turns into fairly clear at that time. If I am not in a position to go, I am not going to compromise our workforce, put myself forward of that. 

“It’d’ve crossed my thoughts, however finally that is not the way you make your choice.”

Crosby suffered a scary-looking proper leg harm throughout a 4-3 time beyond regulation win over Staff Czechia within the Olympic quarterfinal. The harm, although, might not have been as unhealthy because it initially appeared. 

Crosby missed Canada’s 3-2 win over Finland within the semifinal however skated throughout a closed apply session on Saturday. Per Basu, teammates thought he seemed prepared. The middle nonetheless did not really feel 100%. 

“It is fairly clear, given the state of affairs, whether or not you’ll be able to both play or not play,” Crosby stated. “And I simply did not really feel like I used to be in a position to. Even to get to the purpose the place I needed to make that call, I did not assume I would be in that place after the Czech sport. I feel the medical workers, everyone, was unbelievable. Sadly, [I] wasn’t in a position to go.”