Sidney Crosby's status vs Finland shifts pressure onto Team Canada stars

The TSN read is blunt: “Sounds like” Crosby is unlikely to play vs. Finland on Friday. That’s the kind of wording that usually means the staff is bracing for a no.

Crosby is day to day with a lower-body injury after he limped off in the second period against Czechia.

Canada still survived that one, a 4-3 overtime win, because the group has answers everywhere.

Nick Suzuki tied it late, and Mitch Marner ended it in overtime.

Friday’s semifinal is Canada vs Finland, with the other matchup USA vs Slovakia.

Canada entered the medal round as the No. 1 seed and sat 3-0-0-0 in group play, so this is not supposed to feel nervous.

This is the part where Canadian fans start doom-scrolling, because everyone knows how different the bench looks when 87 is not barking orders.

If Crosby sits, Jon Cooper has to re-balance the top-six and the first man advantage unit in a hurry.

It also changes the late-game plan, especially on defensive zone draws when you just want one clean win.

Finland will happily turn this into a tight-checking grind and dare Canada to get to the inside.

Canada can still lean on firepower, with Connor McDavid leading the tournament scoring at 2-9-11 through four games.

But there is no replacing Crosby’s calm when the rink gets loud.

If this really is a scratch, the first ten minutes will tell you how much of Canada’s identity lives in his shifts.

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