Canada, USA Underway In Much Anticipated Gold Medal Hockey Game At Olympics

Canada will be without captain Sidney Crosby as it closes the Milan Cortina Olympics with a gold-medal showdown against the archrival United States.

Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during Canada’s quarterfinal win over Czechia after his right leg bent awkwardly on a hit.

He sat out Canada’s 3-2 semifinal win against Finland on Friday.

Connor McDavid will serve as captain in Crosby’s absence for a second straight day.

The Canadians and the Americans renew their rivalry after meeting at last year’s 4 Nation Face-Off tournament, which Canada won on a McDavid overtime goal.

The Americans are looking for their first gold in this event since the “Miracle on Ice” Games in 1980, while Canada has won the past two NHL Olympic tournaments in 2014 and 2010.

Canada has beaten the U.S. for Olympic gold in 2002 and 2010 when NHL players took part in the Games.