Slovakia kicked off the men's hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Olympics with a surprising 4-1 victory over defending champion Finland. Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, building on his MVP performance at the 2022 Beijing Games, scored two goals, leading his team to an unexpected win. The opening game saw Slovakia, the defending bronze medalists, stun the reigning Olympic champions.
Slafkovsky's first goal came early in the first period, showcasing his skill as he navigated through Finland's defense. He then slid the puck past Finnish goalie Juuse Saros. Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect, played a crucial role, turning away numerous shots and finishing with 38 saves. Dalibor Dvorsky, a St. Louis Blues forward, scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, putting Slovakia ahead.
"It was a great team effort," Slafkovsky said after the game. "We knew we were the underdogs, but we came out with confidence and played our game." The victory marks Slovakia's first Olympic win over Finland in four games.
Both teams will be back on the ice Friday, with Finland facing Sweden and Slovakia playing against host Italy. The winners of each of the three pools will advance directly to the quarterfinals.
