Sidney Crosby status and Josh Morrissey injury reshape Team Canada final

Feb 21, 2026 (9:22)

Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Sidney Crosby skated Saturday, and Team Canada’s Olympic gold medal hopes now hinge on a game-time decision.

Head coach Jon Cooper confirmed Crosby could play Sunday against the United States. He is officially a game-time call.

That one sentence changes the emotional temperature around this final.

Crosby has 2-4-6 through three tournament games, driving Canada’s top-six with his usual puck control and vision.

He left the quarterfinal with a lower-body injury and missed the semifinal win over Finland.

If he dresses, Canada gets its emotional barometer back at center.

"Game-time decision."

- Jon Cooper

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Even at less than full strength, Crosby’s faceoff work and defensive reads steady the bench in tight moments.

In a one-game final, those small edges matter.

Fans are split between trusting the medical staff and fearing any risk to their captain’s long-term health.

Cooper also ruled out Josh Morrissey for Sunday’s gold medal game, removing a key piece from the blue line.

Morrissey logged heavy minutes earlier in the tournament, moving pucks cleanly and supporting the rush.

Without him, Canada will lean harder on its top defense pair and simplify breakouts under pressure.

That could mean quicker chips off the glass and shorter shifts in the defensive zone.

If Crosby plays, expect controlled minutes early and key draws late.

If he cannot, Canada still has elite talent, but it loses the heartbeat that has defined its Olympic run so far.

Sunday is about gold, but it is also about resilience, and Team Canada will need plenty of both when the puck drops.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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