'Crosby is from another planet': No. 87 showered with chants amid 'poetic' Team Canada performance at 4 Nations Face-Off
Well, that was special.
The 4 Nations Face-Off kicked off on Wednesday night with an epic back-and-forth clash featuring superstars aplenty as Canada edged Sweden in overtime to open the tournament.
The night was a celebration of sorts as NHL players took to the international stage in a best-on-best tournament for the first time since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The pace in Wednesday's opener was furious and the skill was immense all across the board, but this one belonged to one man, one absolute legend: Sidney Crosby.
With all eyes on him, the Canadian captain put on a masterclass of strength (can anyone get the puck off this guy?) and stick-skill while showing the next-level smarts and elite hockey sense that have made Crosby one of the all-time NHL and international greats.
Immediately, less than a minute into the tournament, all of those things that make No. 87 so special were on full display as Crosby set up fellow Nova Scotian and good friend Nathan MacKinnon for an early power-play goal with this absolutely absurd no-look, behind the back pass to kick things off in style for Canada.
You could tell right here that Crosby was in demon mode already:
OH SID THAT IS FILTHY 🤢CANADA SCORES IN THE OPENING MINUTE pic.twitter.com/bU2ijPoSvA
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 13, 2025
Sidney Crosby with another FILTHY assist, this time to Mark Stone 🤢🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Yvw6OgmCdO
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 13, 2025
Mitch Marner gives Canada an OT winner ‼️The assist? It had to be Sidney Crosby, his third of the night.🎥 @NHL pic.twitter.com/paCKuxuf9p
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 13, 2025
With another filthy assist on Mark Stone's tally late in the second period, and a third helper with this absurd two-zone drop pass to Mitch Marner on the overtime winner, 37-year-old Crosby — the oldest player in the tournament — finished the night with primary assists on three of Canada's four goals, was named player of the game, and had the entire Bell Centre in Montreal chanting his name at throughout the night.
What an electric return to the international stage for the Canadian captain.
Crosby chant in Montreal gonna give every generation of hockey fans goosebumps pic.twitter.com/pi2LZdNBV0
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) February 13, 2025
The Crosby chants, in particular, had Canadian hockey fans deep — and I do mean DEEP — in their feelings.
keep chanting 'crosby' and i might just shed a tear or two
— matt (@yinzzzerr) February 13, 2025
Mario chants before the game and ends with Crosby chants. Canada wins 4-3 in OT winner by Marner. Crosby 3 🍎's including on OT winner. Wow.
— Colby Armstrong (@armdog) February 13, 2025
I never knew how much I needed to hear Crosby chants in the Bell Centre until know. That was awesome. He's still him, btw.
— MICHAEL DISTEFANO (@mickey_canuck) February 13, 2025
Hearing those Bell Centre fans chanting "Crosby! Crosby! Crosby!" just brought me back to 2010, walking up and down The Red Mile in Calgary shortly after Sid scored the Golden Goal in Vancouver, and hearing those same chantsInternational hockey is the best
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) February 13, 2025
NOTHING like the Bell Centre.Those Crosby chants 😭😭
— Nathan "Grav" Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) February 13, 2025
The Crosby chants legit made me tear up. I think I love him!!!! #TeamCanada I don't know the hashtag oops pic.twitter.com/NTScxehsSz
— Megan Albu (@meganalbu) February 13, 2025
Crosby chants are giving me chills
— A (@_marlanderthews) February 13, 2025
Canada has, almost unfathomably, now won 26 consecutive games in international competition with Crosby in the lineup. That's right, Canada is 26-0 over the last 26 games in which Crosby has suited up.
It's simply insane how good this guy has been when he throws the Canadian maple leaf on his chest:
Sidney Crosby has averaged 1.12 points per game during his 26-game win streak when wearing a Team Canada sweater pic.twitter.com/XVIMEFcptc
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 13, 2025
Marner, who cashed the OT winner after Crosby's slick drop-pass in the neutral zone, was pretty fired up to add a Crosby moment of his own to his mantle.
"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. "I'm sure my family is going to be very excited about that one. It's going to be a really cool thing that I get to have now."
Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper, meanwhile, couldn't help but be in awe of Crosby's performance.
'Just his demeanour,' Cooper said post game, breaking down what makes No. 87 so special. 'He says all the right things at the right time, and then you need a lift, and the team's pushing, and he's the one that sets up the helper. And then you need a lift in overtime, and he's the one that sets it up. It's no coincidence his record of when he's wearing a Canadian jersey. It's not a fluke.
"He will go down as the greatest player to ever represent his country," Cooper added. "If not, he's going to be on the Mount Rushmore for sure of people who have thrown a Canadian jersey on."
Suffice to say, plenty of fans agree with the Canadian bench boss on one thing: Crosby is an absolute legend.
He's 37 years old and on his team are Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, among so many other stars, and Sidney Crosby is still Canada's best player.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 13, 2025
Canada hasn't lost a game internationally with Sidney Crosby in the lineup in over 15 years. 26-0. Legend.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) February 13, 2025
Nobody does it like Crosby. 3 primary assists, crowd chanting his name. That was awesome.
— Erik (@pensyyc) February 13, 2025
Brilliant performance from Sidney Crosby all night long. Three primary assists, all of them spectacular in different ways. Nothing surprising. But still remarkable.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) February 13, 2025
Sidney Crosby puts on that Canadian sweater and there's literally never been a better hockey player to ever live
— Jordie (@jordiebarstool) February 13, 2025
Sidney Crosby really walked into this tournament and said, 'not only am I going to play in this thing, I'm going to hit so many clips it's going to make your head spin'pic.twitter.com/dYSbGHvi8w
— Jeremy Perrigo (@jeremyperrigo) February 13, 2025
Crosby himself seemed extra fired up after the game as star players up and down Canada's lineup embraced the opportunity to compete in a "best-on-best" format after being deprived of it for nearly nine years.
"An unbelievable game, unbelievable skill and talent out there," Crosby told Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas following Canada's win. "You dream of playing in games like this."
Linemate, good friend, and beneficiary of that sweet, sweet Crosby magic on Canada's opening goal, MacKinnon was pumped about making his best-on-best debut for Canada.
"I haven't played best-on-best for Team Canada ever, so definitely a lot of adrenaline, a lot of nerves," the Avalanche star said after the game.
Superstar Connor McDavid echoed a similar sentiment:
"I've been saying we've been missing best-on-best and that's obviously why," McDavid said. "That's as high-end a game as you're going to find, as fast a game as you're going to find. Skilled, great players doing great things. That's what we've been missing for a decade now. It was a great game all around."
Drew Doughty, 35, on the pace of Canada-Sweden game. 'That's the fastest hockey game I've ever played in.'
— John Matisz (@MatiszJohn) February 13, 2025
If there were any doubts how intense these games would be or how serious it would be taken by fans and the players themselves, those were laid to rest pretty quickly after that incredible tournament opener.
And, just like the players, fans and media couldn't help but be smitten with the return of best-on-best international hockey — and at the sight of Crosby dominating on the big stage once more.
3 Apples for 37 year old Sidney Crosby including the game winner to Mitch Marner. Bell Centre chanting Crosby… I was so wrong about the Four Nations tournament, that was awesome#4Nations pic.twitter.com/BHRMVAFarm
— RGF (@rgfray1) February 13, 2025
What a game. Crosby is from another planet. I'm curious what people who were hating on this tourney have to say now
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) February 13, 2025
What a phenomenal game. We've been sorely deprived of this level of hockey.Crosby with three assists and the crowd chanting his name is so poetic too.#4Nations
— Brenden Escott (@BrendenEscott) February 13, 2025
Yeah that was better than the last 10 all star games combined…USA vs. Canada is going to be a MOVIE. Well done, @NHL. #4Nations
— Nasher (@TheNasher61) February 13, 2025
In what is becoming the most anticipated international game in nearly a decade, Canada faces Team USA on Saturday, with a win likely securing a spot in the final for either side.
Let's see what Sid has in store for us next.
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