Even at 38, Sidney Crosby continues to prove why he remains one of hockey’s greatest. The veteran delivered a vintage performance for Team Canada during its dominant 5-1 victory over Denmark at the IIHF World Championship.

Crosby assisted on four out of the five goals Team Canada scored in the game. Contrary to what the scoreline suggests, however, they struggled to pierce Denmark’s strong defense.

Crosby and his men controlled the puck and created many chances, but Denmark’s goalie, Nicolaj Henriksen, made multiple stops in the first two periods and kept the game close.

As the match progressed, Crosby controlled the tempo, passed the puck accurately, and created scoring chances every time he was on the ice. Even without scoring, he led Canada’s attack and helped the team dominate the third period with his playmaking.

Canada finally broke through 28 seconds into the third period when Philadelphia Flyers winger Porter Martone opened the scoring. Soon after, Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi scored to extend Canada's lead.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk added another goal seconds later. Crosby, poised as ever, helped create many of those chances with smart passing and great vision.

Denmark later scored through forward Nick Olesen, but Canada quickly answered back. Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly scored to restore the three-goal lead, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon finished the game with an empty-net finish.

Crosby Praised Team Canada's Patience

After the game, Sidney Crosby praised the team for staying calm. He noted that they were playing good hockey, but struggled to finish their chances. This was quite evident as neither team scored in the first two periods.

"We were not discouraged or frustrated with our play because we were playing well," he stated, as per Sportsnet. "But we wanted to trust our game, especially since we had that quarterfinal from (last year’s men’s worlds) fresh in our minds.”

Crosby also reflected on Canada’s previous meeting with Denmark. The two met in the quarterfinals at last year's IIHF World Championship, where Canada suffered a stunning defeat and was eliminated from the tournament. Beating Denmark this week will serve as a confidence boost for Crosby and his team.

The veteran also praised Nicolaj Henriksen, who made his first appearance at the World Championship. The Dane had an impressive outing, making 33 saves to keep Canada at bay for a long time.

“Denmark’s goalie made some big saves, and we had some looks that we did not convert on, but I thought we controlled the play," Crosby said.

Captain Macklin Celebrini also chipped in with two assists, while goalie Jet Greaves stopped 15 shots. This was Canada’s third win at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, with Norway awaiting them next on Thursday.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul