Sidney Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during Canada’s Olympic quarterfinal game against Czechia on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and did not return to the game. The injury occurred in the second period after he took a hard hit from Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas, followed by additional contact from Martin Necas and Ondřej Palát. Crosby, who was favoring his right leg and limping, left the ice and went to the locker room, where he was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Despite his absence, Team Canada rallied to win 4-3 in overtime, with Mitch Marner scoring the game-winning goal.

Crosby is undergoing imaging in Milan to determine the severity of the injury. Coach Jon Cooper confirmed that the team’s message during the second intermission was to ensure this would not be Crosby’s final game at the Olympics, and his absence served as a strong motivator for the team. As the 38-year-old captain and Pittsburgh Penguins leader, Crosby has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in four games and is expected to be a key figure in Canada’s semifinal matchup against Finland on Friday. His status for the rest of the tournament remains uncertain.