'He's unbelievable': Crosby impressing younger Canadian teammates at 4 Nations Face-Off

Canada started to wobble Monday afternoon.

Having built a commanding 4-0 lead over Finland, and with a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game looking certain, the team in red finally surrendered a goal in the third period.

And then two more as the Finns pressed 6-on-5 in the final two minutes to make the score an uncomfortable 4-3 with 77 seconds left on the TD Garden clock.

The unthinkable not 10 minutes earlier looked like it could become reality. The Canadians needed the regulation victory to guarantee a rematch with the United States in Thursday's final.

Sidney Crosby, as always, was there for his country when it needed him most.

The captain of the men's national team stopped Mikael Granlund, who had just scored twice in quick succession to put Canada on edge, in his tracks with a thunderous check at centre ice before firing the puck into the vacant cage 100 feet away.

Win secured. Maple Leaf nerves calmed. Crosby had done it again.

"You see somebody from afar and you don't want to be disappointed when you meet them," Canadian head coach Jon Cooper said post-game of getting to know No. 87. "You want to meet your hero and you want them to be your hero. And honestly, a lot of times, it doesn't happen.

"Well, the light that you look at Sidney Crosby, it's still the same light when you meet him. He's a true inspiration to all the young guys in that locker room, and even older guys."

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The 37-year-old isn't at 100 per cent at the tournament, but his unmatched effort remains intact.

Crosby fell on his sword for a costly turnover on the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Americans in Montreal. He proceeded to calmly pick up the group and then sealed Monday's victory.

The Cole Harbour, N.S., product scored the overtime winner for Canada at the 2010 Olympics, captained the country atop the podium again four years later, and led a flawless performance at the 2016 World Cup. The country is 27-1 the last 28 times Crosby has pulled on the sweater.

"Trying to not to pinch yourself," Canadian defenceman Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets said Tuesday of playing with Crosby for the first time. "What he's done this week and what he's done throughout his career, it's incredible.