When the chips are on the line for Team Canada, Sidney Crosby always seems to deliver. He did it again last night with three huge assists to secure a 4-3 overtime win against Team Sweden in the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.
It was a classic Crosby performance. He reminded everyone that while he may be older at 37, when he puts on that Canada jersey, something special happens every time.
Crosby’s three assists included the overtime helper to Mitch Marner, which secured the win. Canada has now won its last 26 games with Crosby in the lineup, a streak that dates back 15 years.
“It’s no coincidence, his record when he’s wearing a Canadian jersey,” said head coach Jon Cooper postgame.
“That’s not a fluke. He will go down as the greatest player to ever represent his country…if not on the Mount Rushmore for sure of people who have thrown the Canadian jersey on.”
The Bell Centre crowd basked in Crosby’s glory all night long. They cheered every time he stepped on the ice, nearly blew the roof off the place when he was introduced, and chanted his name repeatedly, including at a deafening level when he was named player of the game.
Sidney Crosby playing for Canada in Montreal. It doesn’t get much better. #4Nations pic.twitter.com/cCDULOA1Sm
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) February 13, 2025
“I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan, and to have an ovation like that here was really special. It’s something I will always remember,” said Crosby.
It was a moment that everyone present won’t forget any time soon.
“That was special, just the chanting ‘Crosby’ before player of the game,” said linemate Nathan MacKinnon. “That was really cool, something I’ll always remember for sure.”
On a team filled with All-Stars from top to bottom, it was Crosby, who had been the hero so many times before that stepped up once again.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to play for Canada, be able to play for this group, to still be playing, it’s not an easy league. You’ve got to work hard to still be playing at a high level. I’m grateful for all that,” said Crosby.
Mario Lemieux made an appearance
Perhaps the only cheer louder than the one Crosby got was for Mario Lemieux. The French-Canadian legend announced Team Canada’s lineup in their dressing room before being introduced on the ice.
Fans went absolutely nuts when Mario stepped onto the ice.
“The ovation for Mario to start, that was pretty cool, and then just the crowd coming out for warmup, just the anticipation through the whole overtime…all that stuff, it was kind of a rollercoaster, but they were incredible, and it was a lot of fun,” said Crosby.
“It was an amazing pregame. I’ve never been part of a pregame that cool before,” said MacKinnon. “Amazing energy in this building tonight, definitely the coolest I’ve ever been a part of.”
Canada doesn’t have a ton of time to rest on their laurels. A huge matchup against the United States looms on Saturday night. That game will be the most exciting best-on-best contest for Team Canada in more than a decade and will surely draw rabid attention from fans across the country.