BOSTON — Less than a minute into the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, Sidney Crosby showed he can still perform at an elite level.
On an early power play in Canada’s opening game against Sweden, Connor McDavid passed the puck to Crosby at the goal line. Team Canada’s captain then slid a no-look backhanded pass to Nathan MacKinnon who was waiting at the bottom of the left circle to fire a one-timer past Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson.
The Montreal crowd erupted as Canada scored the first goal of the tournament. It was a goal Canadian fans waited 10 years to see on the international stage.
The goal and the crowd’s reaction was a reminder that Crosby, 37, is not only one of the best players in the history of the game, he’s still elite now. He’s spent the last two seasons playing great hockey in unimportant games for the rebuilding Penguins. The tournament, which has put him among great players again, has been a chance to make use of his still special skills in games that matter.
The fans weren’t the only ones wowed by the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
Growing up idolizing him in Ontario, Mitch Marner wasn’t even a teenager when Crosby won his first Stanley Cup in 2009. Against Sweden, Marner turned a Crosby pass into the game-winning goal.
“You tell 10-year-old Mitch that he scored an overtime goal assisted by Sidney Crosby, the guy he looked up to since Day 1, yeah, it’s pretty crazy,” Marner said.
Marner isn’t the only one cherishing the experience.
“Trying not to pinch myself,” said Josh Morrissey, 29. “It’s a huge honor to be able to play with him.”
Crosby’s return to the international stage comes a decade after he played in the 2015 World Championship and scored in Canada’s gold-medal win over Russia.
Hockey legend Mario Lemieux hands Canada forward Sidney Crosby a commemorative banner prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action against Sweden in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)AP
The win put Crosby in the rare Triple Gold Club — a Stanley Cup, plus gold medals in the Olympics (2010 and 2014) and World Championships. Thursday’s 4 Nations final game against Team USA presents Crosby the opportunity to win his fourth best-on-best championship. Canada is 27-1 with Crosby in the lineup.
“That’s not a fluke. He will go down as the greatest player to ever represent his country,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “If not, he’s going to be on the Mount Rushmore, for sure, of people that have thrown the Canadian jersey on.”
Crosby’s talent speaks for itself. And while he is larger-than-life in Canada, that hasn’t stopped him from being a genuinely good person.
“Guys just gravitate towards him,” MacKinnon said. ”He’s got an awesome personality. He’s a great storyteller. He’s just a fun guy to be around.”
Brad Marchand, who like MacKinnon shares Nova Scotia roots with Crosby, agreed.
“He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game of hockey. You would never know that if you met him outside and didn’t know what he did,” Marchand said. “He takes time to communicate with everybody. He’s always laughing and joking around. He’s not arrogant.”
Cooper, who is coaching Crosby for the first time, sees it, too.
“I could write a book on just my time around Sidney Crosby, in the short little window I’ve had,” he said. “His demeanor on the bench. He says all the right things at the right time. When you need a lift in overtime he’s the one who sets it up.
“In our country, he walks on water,” Cooper added later. “And he’s as humble as they come.”
Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, Crosby has added to his legacy by leading Canada to the final. His five points are tied for the tournament lead.
“The level of play that he’s at, at this point in his career, it’s amazing,” Morrissey said. “A huge reason why we have a chance to play in the final.”
But even with all he’s accomplished. this has been a special experience. On the same night he set up MacKinnon for the first goal and Marner for the game-winner, he waited on the ice as the Bell Centre public address announced that game’s three stars.
The public address announcer hadn’t even announced Crosby yet when those in attendance began chanting his name. Those cheers only became louder when the first star was revealed and he skated onto the ice to salute the crowd.
“He’s been a Pittsburgh Penguin his whole life, and that just shows you how much people care about him and respect him in this country,” Cooper said. “And if I’m going to think about my top three or four moments of this, it’ll be the ovation Sidney Crosby received.”
In a career filled with memorable moments, this will stick with him forever.
“To have an ovation like that here was really special and something I’ll always remember,” Crosby said. “Just grateful for the opportunity to be able to play for Canada, to 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 think I’m grateful for all that.”
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