Sidney Crosby didn’t play, but what he did between periods shaped Canada’s win

It's been a crazy couple of games for Canada as they continue their quest for a gold medal, as they had to first get past Czechia but then had to mount a comeback win after going down 2-0 to Finland in the semifinals.

But Nathan MacKinnon was the hero, and the Canadian side was able to advance to the gold medal game although they were still without Sidney Crosby, who left the quarterfinal vs. Czechia and didn't suit up.

In what could be his last Olympics, Crosby has still been a staunch teammate and giving advice and motivation wherever needed, and his actions during the semi-final game show exactly why he was anointed leader of the team.

Crosby was very vocal and active during intermission, giving his teammates a different perspective and drawing up some strategies that would help them better produce and capitalize on their chances:

There is also the potential that with enough rest and having avoided the worst, Crosby could end up suiting up for Canada -- something Jon Cooper confirmed:

You can also tell that Canada wants Crosby back, and it was interim captain Connor McDavid who was honest in his response regarding Crosby's influence on the team and what his role is:

The entire nation was holding their breath when Crosby went down and the fact that it went from potential worst-case scenario to an appearance in the gold medal game is nothing short of a storybook ending.

For now, we will have to wait and see what Friday and Saturday brings us as Canada doesn't need to worry about a game until Sunday so it gives Crosby a couple more days to heal and get ready to return.

If he does, that makes Canada's chances against a very potent USA side much better, and it could cap off his legendary career with yet another gold medal -- potentially his last.

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