MILAN — Sidney Crosby took the ice with Team Canada during Saturday’s practice, boosting hopes he could return for the gold medal showdown against the United States. The puck drops at 8:10 a.m. ET Sunday at Santagiulia Arena on Peacock, NBC, ICI Tele, CBC Gem, CBC, SN, TSN and RDS2.

Crosby missed Friday’s tense 3-2 victory over Finland because of the lower-body issue. Canada coach Jon Cooper held off on a final call but sounded encouraged after watching the Penguins star skate.

“We’ll see,” Cooper said. He planned a meeting with Crosby that night to decide his status. “I watched him skate today. I haven’t spoken to him yet.”

Cooper stressed Crosby would only suit up if he could contribute fully. “He won’t put himself in harm’s way. He’s not going to put the team in harm’s way,” the coach said. “Obviously, we’d love to have him, but that determination will be made tonight.”

The stakes run high in a matchup this big. Cooper made clear no half-measures. “It’s too important and we don’t have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player capable of helping,” he said. “You never know if guys are going to get hurt in the game. He wouldn’t want to do that either.”

Teammate Nick Suzuki saw plenty to like on the ice. “I thought he looked really good out there today,” the forward said. “Hopefully he’s in. It’d mean a lot to him and us.”

Suzuki called Crosby a cornerstone. “He’s such a big leader, big voice. Everyone looks up to him, and it’d be awesome if he can play tomorrow.”

Canada advanced to the final with goals from a balanced attack against Finland. Now they face a U.S. squad hungry for gold. Crosby’s presence could swing the game. His two prior Olympic golds — including the iconic overtime winner against the Americans in 2010 — add weight to every shift he might take.

Cooper’s squad has leaned on depth without its captain. Friday’s win came on late drama, with Canada holding firm after Finland tied it midway through the third. Players like Suzuki stepped up, but Crosby’s return would inject star power and leadership into the locker room.

Fans tuned in from across North America await word. Crosby, at 37, chases a third Olympic gold to cap a Hall of Fame career. His status remains the top storyline heading into the final.