Matthew Tkachuk and Sidney Crosby (Getty Images)

Matthew Tkachuk rejects playing mind games with Sidney Crosby, and that choice says plenty about where Team USA stands before the Olympic gold medal game. Confidence is flowing, but it is rooted in respect. After overpowering Slovakia in the semifinal, the Americans have earned their shot at Canada. The noise around Crosby is loud, yet inside the U.S. locker room, the message feels calm and clear.This moment has been building throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics. The U.S. roster has played fast, direct hockey, backed by timely scoring and steady goaltending. Now comes the biggest test. Canada remains the measuring stick, with or without its captain fully healthy. For the Americans, the path forward is less about personalities and more about purpose.

Matthew Tkachuk Rejects Playing Mind Games With Sidney Crosby and explains why respect matters now

Tkachuk did not hesitate when asked if getting under Crosby’s skin was part of the plan. His answer reflected admiration more than rivalry.“Sidney Crosby. He’s got three championships. I don’t think you’re getting into his head. I mean, he’s won everything, at every single level.”He went further, making it clear that this is about chasing greatness, not provoking it.“We want his stature,” Tkachuk added. “We want everything that he’s accomplished. I guess this team of 25 guys has a chance to accomplish something he has. There is no psychological warfare with him.”That mindset has shaped how the Americans reached this point. Their 6 to 2 win over Slovakia showed depth and composure. Jack Hughes created chances with his speed. Brady Tkachuk brought edge and energy. Dylan Larkin helped drive the pace. Matthew Tkachuk, as he has all tournament, stayed at the heart of the action.Across the ice, questions linger around Crosby’s availability. He missed Canada’s semifinal win over Finland after suffering a lower body injury earlier against Czechia. Coach Jon Cooper has not ruled him out, leaving the door open for a dramatic return.Even without Crosby, Canada showed its firepower. Connor McDavid carried the attack. Macklin Celebrini stepped into a bigger role alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart, and Cale Makar.Still, the American approach has not changed. There is no obsession with who lines up for Canada. The focus stays inward. Effort. Execution. Trust.Both teams arrive unbeaten. Both carry belief. And both know what waits on the other side of sixty minutes.