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Why Team Canada’s “custom brace” push couldn’t get Sidney Crosby into the semifinal
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is out for Team Canada’s Olympic semifinal, and the Crosby injury news hits like a gut punch.
This is the nightmare version of best on best hockey, captain down, everything on the line.
Elliotte Friedman reported Team Canada tried everything, right down to hunting for a custom brace.
They did the full “humanly possible” checklist, and still got the same answer.
Crosby simply could not go in the semifinal against Finland on Friday.
On Crosby: "heard Team Canada and everyone around him did everything humanly possible for him to play -- including searching for/putting together a custom brace.
Unfortunately, he can't go in the semifinal."
- Elliotte Friedman
Unfortunately, he can't go in the semifinal."
- Elliotte Friedman
The context matters, Crosby tweaked a lower-body injury in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime quarterfinal win over Czechia.
Canada survived the chaos, but the bill came due.
Crosby has already put up 2-5-7 in this tournament, and you can feel how much of Canada’s identity runs through him.
Now the room has to win without the guy who usually calms it down.
Sidney Crosby absence forces Team Canada to improvise
Canadian fans are proud of the effort, but also furious that fate always asks for a pound of flesh.
Connor McDavid will wear the “C” in the semifinal, because international rules demand the captain is in the lineup.
That is a massive leadership swing, even with McDavid built for this.
Tactically, it changes the middle of the ice right away.
Finland will pressure harder on the forecheck, because Crosby is usually Canada’s cleanest exit option.
On the man advantage, Canada loses that instant bumper read, the one touch that opens seams.
It also changes the bench rhythm, shorter shifts, fewer safe matchups, more chaos.
The hope, and it is only hope, is that a win buys Crosby time for Sunday’s gold medal game.
But first, Canada has to earn the chance to even have that conversation.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Sidney Crosby's official game status vs finland released by Hockey Canada, affecting Connor McDavid
Sidney Crosby's official game status vs finland released by Hockey Canada, affecting Connor McDavid
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 20|317 ANSWERS Why Team Canada’s “custom brace” push couldn’t get Sidney Crosby into the semifinal Should Team Canada play Sidney Crosby no matter what if they reach the gold medal game? | ||
| Yes | 117 | 36.9 % |
| No | 200 | 63.1 % |
| List of polls | ||