Sidney Crosby steps up for Connor McDavid after Canada’s Olympic final loss

Having missed the Olympics final match between Canada and the United States, captain Sidney Crosby led questioning in a press conference following the Canadians 2-1 overtime loss against Canada.

Initially, it was Connor McDavid, who took on the Canadian captaincy with Crosby out for the tournament, but it was the Penguins star who decided to accompany head coach Jon Cooper to the podium to speak.

Crosby, who was injured in Canada's quarterfinals win against Czechia, missed Canada's last two games, the semifinals against Finland, and the finals against the Americans.

Speaking to the media, Crosby said that felt that there was little that the Canadians could have done differently to be able to win the game.

Speaking post-game in the Canadian dressing room, Crosby said that he was proud of the team, despite the end result:

In what is likely Sidney Crosby's final Olympic game, on the sidelines, the Canadian could only watch the loss with the question of 'what if?' for the injury that took him out of the tournament.

For Crosby, who already has two gold medals to his name along with his iconic 2010 game winning goal, it will likely sting nonetheless exiting what is likely the final appearance at the winter games for the 38-year-old.

The rest of the team on the ice will feel the pain of losing as much as Crosby, but for #87, even his past winning may not be able to keep him from wondering if him suiting up in the gold medal changes things or not, for better or worse.

It may not be the last time that Crosby appears internationally for Canada. The World Cup of Hockey returns in 2028, and could provide one final chance for Crosby wearing the red and white.

Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins are currently projected to make the playoffs, likely keeping him out this year from the World Championship. Possibly, 2026 is the last time Crosby plays for Canada.

For most of the Canadians at the Olympics, there will be more chances for redemption, and a possible rematch against the Americans, although for Sidney Crosby, he may have been kept from a proper final hurrah.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews make one thing clear about Sidney Crosby before gold