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Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell add tension to Sidney Crosby’s Olympic run
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby chases a third Olympic gold as Pittsburgh Penguins fans sweat Sweden’s Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell staring down Mike Sullivan.
The Olympic men’s tournament in Milan is into the sharp end, where one bad bounce ends a medal dream.
Crosby and Team Canada sit three wins from history, and it feels heavier than any “just another game” speech.
Canada has looked like Canada, fast, mean on pucks, and calm when the ice tilts.
Crosby’s NHL line before the break reads 27-32-59, and he still plays like the game owes him nothing.
Sweden’s path is the stressful one, because it starts with Latvia in the preliminary playoff round.
If Sweden gets through, the quarterfinal on deck is a potential date with Team USA.
Sidney Crosby keeps Pittsburgh Penguins nerves on edge
Penguins fans are excited, but also bracing for that one brutal Olympic shift that changes everything.
The twist is Mike Sullivan on the other bench, now leading the Americans, and both Karlsson and Rakell know exactly how that movie plays.
Karlsson’s Penguins season totals sit at 4-31-35, the kind of line that screams setup man, not shooter.
Rakell’s at 10-14-24, and Sweden needs his quick-release looks off the man advantage to show up in the medal rounds.
Canada’s quarterfinal is set for Wednesday, with Crosby’s group waiting on a play-in winner.
If this turns into Canada vs USA later, the spotlight won’t blink, and every Penguins fan will be counting shifts.
No matter what, the real gut-check comes when the NHL returns and these guys have to snap back into a playoff chase.
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