Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Team Canada win overshadowed by Sidney Crosby injury during 2026 Winter Olympics quarterfinals

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 2:31 PM ET

Team Canada survived an upset bid from Team Czechia during the quarterfinals of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, but it may have lost NHL all-time great Sidney Crosby in the process.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist left Team Canada's thrilling comeback 4-3 overtime win during the second period with what CBC described as "an apparent right leg injury."

While the top-ranked team in the men's hockey field has more than enough depth to withstand Crosby's injury — should it keep him out the remainder of the Winter Games — it would mark an unceremonious end to an incredible Olympics career.

Sidney Crosby injury overshadows Team Canada quarterfinals win

During Sunday's 10-2 group stage win over Team France, Crosby set the Canadian record for most points scored by an NHL player at the Winter Olympics at 16, eclipsing the previous mark of 14 set by Jarome Iginla.

Crosby famously made the winning goal in overtime over Team USA in the gold-medal game at Vancouver 2010 and served as team captain four years later during a successful repeat at Sochi.

The Golden Goal.

Sidney Crosby's OVERTIME winner brought @TeamCanada the GOLD in 2010. pic.twitter.com/uFcU3mxnDV
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 3, 2020

With the next Winter Games not until 2030, when Crosby will be 42, this year's Olympics are likely his final time competing at the global event. He's earned a better ending to his Olympics career than an early exit due to injury, but he may be left with no other choice.

Crosby can't afford any further damage, particularly with the Pittsburgh Penguins currently second in the Metropolitan Division and firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Team Canada also still has stars including Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar and Macklin Celebrini, giving it more than enough firepower to claim its first men's hockey gold medal since 2014, the last time NHL players competed at the Olympics.

Still, Crosby's status will be a major storyline entering the semifinals.

"In our lifetime, Sidney Crosby has been generational," Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper told reporters following a 5-1 group stage win over Team Switzerland. Depending on the severity of Crosby's injury, Wednesday may have marked the end of an era.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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