Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 in men's hockey opener at Milan Cortina Olympics

Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice to lead Slovakia to a stunning 4-1 victory over Finland in the first game of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics men’s hockey tournament. The Montreal Canadiens forward, who was MVP at the 2022 Beijing Games, opened the scoring less than eight minutes in and added a power-play goal late. Fellow NHLer Dalibor Dvorsky netted the tiebreaking tally in the third period, while Adam Ruzicka sealed it with an empty-netter.

Slovakia, dressed with just seven NHL players, defied expectations against a Finland squad boasting 24 full-time NHLers. Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect, stood tall with 38 saves despite Finland’s 39-25 shot advantage. Eeli Tolvanen tallied Finland’s lone goal for the defending Olympic champions from Beijing.

This upset sets an exciting tone for the tournament, with underdogs proving they can compete against the elite.

Slafkovsky shines again for Slovakia

Juraj Slafkovsky wasted no time reminding everyone of his Olympic pedigree. Skating through Finland’s defense, he slid the puck past Juuse Saros at 7:45 of the first period for the tournament’s first goal. It echoed his performance four years ago in Beijing, where he opened against the same opponent—though in a losing effort.

In Beijing, Slafkovsky scored seven goals en route to bronze, Slovakia’s first Olympic hockey medal. Now with the Canadiens, he tied Jaromir Jagr for ninth in career Olympic goals among players since NHLers joined in 1998, reaching nine total. His second goal came on the power play in the third, wired past Saros, followed by a fist pump to the roaring Milan crowd.

Slafkovsky also earned an assist on Ruzicka’s empty-netter, finishing with three points. His leadership has been crucial for a young Slovak squad featuring recent top draft picks like Simon Nemec and Dvorsky.

This performance cements Slafkovsky as a cornerstone for Slovakia’s hopes. For more on his NHL season, check his player profile.

Slovakia’s attack relied heavily on Slafkovsky’s finishing touch amid Finland’s pressure.

Hlavaj steals the show in net

Samuel Hlavaj emerged as the game’s true hero. The undrafted Wild prospect faced 18 shots in the first period alone, stopping them all to keep Slovakia in front. Overall, he turned aside 38 of 39 shots for a .974 save percentage.

Hlavaj’s poise under fire drew praise from Wild GM Bill Guerin, who called it “great” despite missing the game for U.S. practice nearby. His performance echoes his strong showings at world championships, where he boasts a .923 save percentage.

Finland’s onslaught created prime chances, but Hlavaj’s positioning and glove work shone. This debut positions him as Slovakia’s backbone moving forward.

In contrast, Saros struggled, allowing three goals on 24 shots. Finland may turn to Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen next, as in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Hlavaj’s night validates Slovakia’s prospect depth.

Finland’s firepower falls flat

Finland entered as favorites, with nearly every player on an NHL roster. Yet they managed just one goal from Tolvanen, a 2018 Olympian, off assists from Joel Armia and Artturi Lehkonen.

Despite dominating possession—39 shots to 25—the Finns couldn’t solve Hlavaj. Saros faced fewer tests but faltered on key plays, including Dvorsky’s sneaky third-period shot that made it 2-1.

As defending gold medalists from Beijing, this loss stings. Finland now risks the qualification round after prelims, needing an extra game for medal contention.

Tolvanen’s tally came late in the second power play, briefly tying it. But Slovakia’s resolve held.

Finland faces archrival Sweden on Friday—a must-win to regroup.

Key moments and scoring summary

The game unfolded with tension across periods:

• 1st period (1-0 Slovakia): Slafkovsky (7:45) beats Saros unassisted after a turnover.
• 2nd period (1-1 tie): Tolvanen (PP, late) taps in a rebound.
• 3rd period (4-1 Slovakia): Dvorsky (7:00 approx., game-winner); Slafkovsky (PP); Ruzicka (EN, 17:39, assist Slafkovsky).

Slovakia’s discipline shone on the penalty kill until their own power play.

Finland’s 18-5 first-period edge didn’t yield, highlighting Hlavaj’s impact.

This sequence underscores opportunistic play beating volume.

Group B outlook and next steps

Group B features heavyweights: Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Italy. Sweden plays host Italy in Day 1’s nightcap.

Slovakia (1-0) meets Italy on February 13. A win keeps medal hopes alive despite underdog status.

Finland (0-1) battles Sweden Friday. A loss could send them to qualifiers, testing depth.

Slovakia’s seven NHLers—Slafkovsky, Dvorsky, Nemec, Erik Cernak, Christian Fehervary, others—proved enough. Full rosters here.

This upset signals parity with NHL stars back after 12 years.

Finland must rebound quickly; Slovakia builds momentum.

Slovakia’s victory proves small nations can thrive at the Olympics. With Slafkovsky leading and Hlavaj locking down the net, they enter the tournament with confidence. Finland’s early stumble raises questions for the gold medalists, but their talent suggests a quick turnaround. Expect fireworks as Group B heats up, setting the stage for medal contention.