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The Canadians are playing without their captain, Sidney Crosby, in today’s semifinal game against Finland.

The winner of the game moves on to the gold-medal game on Sunday.

Crosby left the quarterfinal win over Czechia with a lower-body injury. He left the ice and received treatment before going down the tunnel, walking gingerly.

According to Elliotte Friedman, who’s covering Olympic men’s hockey for CBC on the ground, the team and everyone around Crosby did everything humanly possible for him to play, including searching for and putting together a custom brace.

WATCH | Friedman on the work Crosby put in to play on Friday:

Elliotte Friedman: Hockey Canada and Sidney Crosby tried ‘everything humanly possible’ to play today

Elliotte Friedman reports that Hockey Canada tried to find or make a knee brace, to allow Sidney Crosby to play in Canada’s semifinal game against Finland. Friedman reports that Crosby will miss the semifinal match, and Connor McDavid will wear the captain’s C for Canada.

On Thursday, head coach Jon Cooper said no one can replace Crosby, a two-time gold medallist.

“He’s one of one,” Cooper said.

But he pointed to his team’s depth as a way to make up for the loss.

“That’s why you have to pick the players when you’re putting this team together, that in case somebody like Sid goes down, [they] can step in,” he said. “We feel like we have that.”

WATCH | Crosby injured against Czechia:

Canada captain Sidney Crosby leaves quarterfinal game with lower-body injury

Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby left their quarterfinal game against Czechia in the second period, with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

Without Crosby available, Cooper shuffled his lines for Friday’s game. Nick Suzuki is taking Crosby’s spot at third-line centre.

Bo Horvat and Seth Jarvis moved up to the second line with Nathan MacKinnon.

After missing the game against Czechia, Sam Bennett drew back in, bumping Sam Reinhart to the extra forward.

Defenceman Josh Morrissey is missing his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury after skating in practice Thursday. Canada held a closed-practice session Friday morning.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington is starting in net.

WATCH | Gretzky says Binnington was always Canada’s top choice:

Wayne Gretzky says goalie Jordan Binnington was always Canada’s top choice

In a wide-ranging interview ahead of Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey semifinal game against Finland, Wayne Gretzky said Sidney Crosby is irreplaceable, his neighbour and Canadian coach Jon Cooper picked Jordan Binnington as Canada’s starting goalie as far back as January of 2025, and despite Canadian-American political tensions, Gretzky has never wavered in his support for Canada.

Connor McDavid is wearing the captain’s C with Crosby out. MacKinnon and Cale Makar are serving as assistants.

Here are the full lines:

Forward:

• Macklin Celebrini – Connor McDavid – Tom Wilson
• Bo Horvat – Nathan MacKinnon – Seth Jarvis
• Mitch Marner – Nick Suzuki – Mark Stone
• Brandon Hagel – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand
• Sam Reinhart

Defence:

• Devon Toews – Cale Makar
• Thomas Harley – Colton Parayko
• Travis Sanheim – Drew Doughty
• Shea Theodore

Goaltender

• Jordan Binnington
• Logan Thompson