Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Sidney Crosby's official game status vs finland released by Hockey Canada, affecting Connor McDavid
![[Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Sydney Crosby (87) during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game against the United States at TD Garden.](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/643827.webp "[Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Sydney Crosby (87) during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game against the United States at TD Garden.")
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is out for the Hockey Canada semifinal, and Connor McDavid wears the “C” with everything on the line.
That is a gut-punch update, because Crosby has been Canada’s heartbeat all tournament.
Hockey Canada confirmed Crosby will not play, and the letters shift fast.
McDavid gets the captain’s “C” today, with Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon wearing alternates.
It is a clean, simple message to the room, no panic, just next-man-up.
The on-ice ripple is obvious: Canada loses a top-six driver and a power play brain.
Canada’s bench also loses the guy who settles a period down with one shift.
Connor McDavid and Team Canada face the moment
Canadian fans are proud of the swagger, but nervous about the void Crosby leaves in a one-game swing.
McDavid has already shown he can tilt a game here, including a goal and two assists in the rout of France.
Now he has to tilt the emotional side too, especially if Finland drags this into a grind.
Makar is the perfect “A” for a tighter game, because he can erase forechecks and still jump into the rush.
MacKinnon as an alternate matters, because Canada will need straight-line fury when space disappears.
The chess match gets sharper on the man advantage, where Crosby usually calms the puck under pressure.
If Canada’s first power play unit gets impatient, Finland will feast on clears and counter punches.
This also puts more weight on Canada’s start, because chasing without Crosby is a different kind of stress.
Win this semifinal, and the story flips instantly, from injury scare to a captaincy moment people remember.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Sidney Crosby injury update leaves Team Canada in suspense before Finland
Sidney Crosby injury update leaves Team Canada in suspense before Finland
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 20|310 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby's official game status vs finland released by Hockey Canada, affecting Connor McDavid Should Connor McDavid remain Team Canada captain if Sidney Crosby misses more games? | ||
| Yes | 247 | 79.7 % |
| No | 63 | 20.3 % |
| List of polls | ||