The 29-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins centre, a double Olympic champion and Canada's captain, scored once and claimed two assists as his side were forced to come from behind to triumph.

Crosby put his country in front at the Air Canada Centre with the match approaching eight minutes, the third time in four games he had opened the scoring.

Russia turned the match on its head as Nikita Kucherov and Evgeni Kuznetsov struck in the second period to silence the home crowd, but a superb steal and pass to Brad Marchand by Crosby allowed the former to steer home an equaliser.

It remained level until the final period, when Crosby assisted Marchand again, who this time beat Russian keeper Sergei Bobrovsky with a long, low strike.

Daylight for the Canadians was provided when Corey Perry scored a fourth and John Tavares added extra gloss to the scoreline with his country's fifth goal, putting the result beyond doubt.

Russian Artemi Panarin netted a consolation with just seconds left when there was no way back.

It means Canada will meet either Team Europe or Sweden in the best-of-three final series, with the second semi-final tomorrow.

Boston Bruins wing Marchand was full of praise for his colleague Crosby after his hand in both of his goals.

"I think that is one thing that makes him such a good player, his determination, and he always comes up big in the big games," Marchand said.

"You see plays like that, that is where the leadership comes in. 

"And when you are able to lead at this level, of a group of leaders, then you are able to take control, that just shows how special of a player he is, and he created that whole goal, and ultimately that did lead to turning the game around."