Sidney Crosby was ruled out of Canada's Olympic quarterfinal game against Czechia due to a lower-body injury, Hockey Canada announced. The 38-year-old, two-time Olympic gold medalist left in the second period after being hit along the boards by Martin Nečas and Radko Gudas of Czechia. It was a third big hit Crosby took in the period after Gudas and Ondřej Palát connected on checks with the Team Canada captain.
Crosby recovered and took a stride following the Gudas and Nečas hit and was seen shaking his right leg before exiting the ice. After being attended to on Canada's bench, Crosby limped down the tunnel to the locker room. He did not return to the bench for the rest of the game.
Czechia was leading 2-1 at the time of Crosby's injury.
This is Crosby's third Olympics representing Canada. He won gold the last two times NHL players participated — Sochi 2014 and Vancouver 2010.
It was the 2010 Olympics where Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime that led Canada past the U.S.
Crosby has two goals and six points in four games with Canada during the Milan Cortina Olympics.