Sidney Crosby, the captain of the Canadian national hockey team, is reportedly in a position to return for the gold medal match at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, according to head coach John Cooper after Canada's semifinal victory over Finland. The decision on Crosby's participation will be made within the next 48 hours, with Cooper indicating that Crosby's chances of playing have improved post-injury from the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic.

Crosby had sustained an injury during the quarterfinal match against the Czech team following a collision with Radko Gudas and did not return for the game. Despite his absence, the Canadian team managed to secure a hard-fought 4-3 overtime victory. In the semifinal match against Finland, the team succeeded in winning 3-2, missing their captain, whose leadership and skills were notably missed on the ice. Instead, Connor McDavid donned a jersey that carried the 'C' in Crosby's absence.

The final match of the men’s ice hockey tournament will take place on Sunday, at 15:10 local time, marking a potential emotional return for Crosby if he is cleared to play. This situation underscores the intensity of competition at the Olympics as well as the high stakes for athletes like Crosby who are looking to contribute to their team's success on one of the grandest stages in sports.