Sidney Crosby officially ruled out of semifinal against Finland
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper received the absolute worst news possible regarding captain Sidney Crosby ahead of Friday afternoon's critical matchup.
The 38-year-old veteran is officially ruled out of the highly anticipated semifinal clash against a structured Finnish roster that loves to clog the neutral zone.
Early Friday morning reports confidently suggested the injured star actually participated in the mandatory morning skate and there was a possibility he could play.
That temporary wave of optimism vanished completely when the medical staff officially pulled the plug on his availability just hours before the scheduled puck drop.
Losing a guy who already racked up 59 points across 56 games this NHL season completely alters the entire forward group configuration.
His sudden absence leaves a massive void not only on the top line but also in the locker room where his steady veteran leadership remains absolutely unmatched by anyone else.
Without his reliable transition game and faceoff dominance, the Canadians desperately need other forwards to immediately step up and provide the necessary offensive output today.
McDavid wears the "C" for Canada
Superstar center Connor McDavid will proudly wear the captain's 'C' on his sweater and officially take over the ultimate leadership duties for this tense elimination game.
He currently averages an incredible 1.52 points per game over his NHL career, proving he's entirely capable of handling the intense national pressure right now.
Defenseman Cale Makar and forward Nathan MacKinnon are also stepping up to serve as alternate captains for the duration of the critical contest.
Makar brings elite controlled entries from the back end, while his Colorado teammate MacKinnon guarantees solid execution and pure speed whenever he jumps over the boards.
This highly skilled group simply can't afford to be held scoreless in the opening period against a notoriously stingy European defensive trap structure.
The top power play unit must actively rely on crisp passing to finally crack a Finnish goaltender who currently boasts a spectacular .930 save percentage in this tournament.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 20|169 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby officially ruled out of semifinal against Finland Can Connor McDavid successfully lead Team Canada to victory without Sidney Crosby in the lineup ? | ||
| Yes | 120 | 71 % |
| No | 49 | 29 % |
| List of polls | ||