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Team Canada’s Sidney Crosby, a game-time decision for the team’s gold medal game against the United States, was placed on injured reserve by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
Crosby, 38, will be out at least four weeks. He suffered a lower-body injury in Canada’s quarter-final win over the Czech Republic and missed the team’s Olympic semifinal win over Team Finland.
Crosby skated during Team Canada’s practice on Saturday, giving fans hope the Penguins legend could play in the finals, but he was ruled out before the game.
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Sidney Crosby reacts after Canada lost to the United States in the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 22, 2026. (Petr David Josek/AP Photo)
In four Olympic games, Crosby scored two goals and four assists.
Team Canada could have used Crosby and his scoring ability in their 2-1 overtime loss to the USA, especially in overtime, as the three-time Stanley Cup champion is no stranger to scoring big goals. Crosby scored the golden goal in Canada’s 3–2 overtime victory over Team USA in the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) is treated after being injured during the quarter-final match against the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympics on February 18, 2026 in Milan. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
Crosby is among three NHL players who will miss time with their pro clubs due to injuries sustained during the Olympic Games. The Los Angeles Kings will be without Swiss forward Kevin Fiala for the season after he suffered a gruesome leg injury, while the Dallas Stars will be without Finnish forward Mikko Rantanen for at least two weeks with a lower-body injury.
The loss of Crosby is big for the Penguins as they are in the midst of a playoff run. The Penguins are second in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points, eight points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and one point ahead of the third-place New York Islanders.
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Sidney Crosby reacts during the quarter-final match between Canada and the Czech Republic at the Olympic Winter Games on February 18, 2026. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Crosby, in his 21st season, is still a force as he has scored 27 goals and recorded 32 assists in 56 games this season, averaging over a point per game. While the Penguins sent Crosby to injured reserve, they announced Wednesday that defenseman Kris Letang will be activated from it.
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