Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby answered the question about whether a pre-tournament injury would affect him at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The captain had three assists, including on Mitch Marner’s game-winner, as Canada overcame a blown two-goal lead to beat Sweden 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday.
Crosby, 37, has been a staple for Canada at international tournaments, scoring the golden goal in overtime at the 2010 Olympics and also winning at the 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He had missed two games before the tournament with an apparent arm injury.
But he got the go-ahead to play, and Canada benefitted. Crosby made a sharp backhand pass to Nathan MacKinnon to open the scoring and fed Mark Stone with another nice assist to make it 3-1.
Sweden, taking advantage of a tournament-ending injury to Canada’s Shea Theodore, rallied to tie the game in the third period on goals by Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek.
Marner won it at 6:06 of overtime. Canada gets two points in the standings and Sweden gets one. Canada will face the USA and Sweden will face Finland in rivalry Saturday. The USA and Finland play Thursday night in Montreal.
4 NATIONS FACE-OFF: 12 players to watch
POWER RANKINGS: Which team will win the tournament?
Watch 4 Nations Face-Off on Sling
Shea Theodore out of tournament with injury
Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will miss the rest of the tournament with an injury, Canada coach Jon Cooper told reporters. Theodore was injured early in the second period when he was checked into the boards by Adrian Kempe. He was holding his wrist after the hit. Travis Sanheim will get the call after not playing in the opening game.
Canada vs. Sweden highlights
Canada-Sweden score: Mitch Marner wins it in overtime
After big saves from Jordan Binnington, Sidney Crosby brings the puck up ice and feeds back to Mitch Marner before going off on a line change. Marner enters the zone with speed and rips a wrist shot past Filip Gustavsson. That’s three assists for Crosby. Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT).
Canada dominating in OT
Canada is playing Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar together. Shots 7-1 Canada.
Big save by Jordan Binnington
The Canada goalie makes a stick save on Mika Zibanejad.
Overtime underway
Each team has a point and will try for a second point.
Overtime rules
They’ll play 10 minutes of sudden death 3-on-3 hockey. If no one scores, it goes to a shootout.
End of third period: Canada 3, Sweden 3
Sweden’s play has been slowly building since the end of a disappointing first period. They tie it up on goals by Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek.
Two minutes left in third period
Canada cycles in the Sweden zone, but Sam Reinhart is stopped by Filip Gustavsson. Still 3-3.
Sweden goes on power play
Josh Morrissey is called for high-sticking Joel Eriksson Ek. Canada kills it off.
Big save by Filip Gustavsson
Connor McDavid feeds Devon Toews, but Sweden goalie Filip Gustavsson gets over and robs Toews.
Canada-Sweden score: Joel Eriksson Ek ties it up
Lucas Raymond picks up his second assist of the game with a nice pass to Jesper Bratt. Bratt feeds Joel Eriksson Ek near the crease, and he scores at 8:59.
Canada-Sweden score: Sweden’s Adrian Kempe cuts into lead
Sweden’s Adrian Kempe takes a feed from Erik Karlsson, gains the zone and beats Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington clean from between the faceoff circles at 1:54 of the third. Canada 3, Sweden 2
Third period underway
Canada leads 3-1.
Shea Theodore update: Defenseman ruled out
Canada defenseman Shea Theodore, injured early in the second period, won’t return to the game, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported. Canada will play with five defensemen the rest of the game.
End of second period: Canada 3, Sweden 1
Sweden, stymied in the first period, outshoots Canada 9-7 in the second period. The Swedes were helped by Canada being short on defense after an injury to Shea Theodore. Jonas Brodin connected for Sweden’s first goal of the tournament. But Sidney Crosby, as he often does for Team Canada, comes up big. He picked up his second assist of the game with a great set-up for Mark Stone, who restored Canada’s two-goal lead.
Canada-Sweden score: Sidney Crosby sets up Mark Stone
Sidney Crosby enters the zone with speed, spins and feeds a charging Mark Stone at 17:28. That’s two nice assists in the game by Crosby, who wasn’t even certain last week he’d be able to play in the tournament. Canada 3, Sweden 1.
Shea Theodore update
Canada’s Shea Theodore had X-rays, according to TNT’s Jackie Redmond. He appeared to be favoring his wrist after a hit from Adrian Kempe.
Canada-Sweden score: Jonas Brodin gets one back
Sweden hasn’t had much sustained pressure in the Canadian zone. They finally do and get a goal. Lucas Raymond gets the puck off Canada’s Drew Doughty, feeds the point and Victor Hedman finds Jonas Brodin. He beats Jordan Binnington through a screen at 9:33. Canada 2, Sweden 1.
Shea Theodore leaves the game
Sweden’s Adrian Kempe hits Canada’s Shea Theodore into the boards and the Golden Knights defenseman looks to be in pain. He heads to the dressing room.
Second period underway
Canada leads 2-0.
End of first period: Canada 2, Sweden 0
Canada controls the first period. In addition to striking early with the power play, Canada held Sweden to three shots. Sweden didn’t get a shot on goal until late in the period.
Canada-Sweden score: Brad Marchand scores for Canada
Canada gets a 2-on-1 break and Brayden Point feeds Brad Marchand for a 2-0 lead at 13:15 of the first period. The Boston Bruins captain, usually booed inside Montreal’s Bell Centre, gets cheers instead. Canada 2, Sweden 0.
Canada-Sweden score: Nathan MacKinnon scores on power play
The Canadian power play has Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar. The first three needed just 12 seconds of power play time to connect for a MacKinnon goal at 56 seconds of the first period. Great backhand pass by Crosby. Canada 1, Sweden 0.
When is 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden?
Canada and Sweden will play at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
How to watch 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden
The Canada-Sweden game will be broadcast on TNT.
How to stream 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden
World Cup of Hockey returning in 2028
The World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028, and the NHL and players association envision a continuing cycle of alternating Olympics and World Cups every two years.
Details are still to be worked out, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said it would involve ‘at least’ eight countries. Cities, including those in Europe, can start bidding in the coming months. Bettman said he didn’t foresee any melded teams, as happened in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with smaller European countries forming one team and the North American ‘Young Guns’ forming another.
It’s up in the air whether Russian players can take part because of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The International Ice Hockey Federation recently voted to ban Russian players from its championships for another year, through the 2025-26 season.
4 Nations Face-Off schedule, TV
(Times p.m. ET)
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland at Montreal, 8, ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden at Montreal, 1, ABC
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada at Montreal, 8, ABC
Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland at Boston, 1, TNT
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden vs. USA at Boston, 8, TNT
Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.