Olympic Ice Hockey Kicks Off in Milan with Finland vs. Slovakia Showdown
MILAN, ITALY - The puck has officially dropped on the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and right out of the gate, we’ve got a compelling Group B matchup: Finland vs. Slovakia at the newly minted Milano Santaguilia IHO Arena.
For fans of the Colorado Avalanche, this one comes with a little extra emotional weight. Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen - longtime teammates in Denver - are suiting up for Team Finland, but skating on separate lines.
It’s a reunion of sorts, but not quite the Avalanche combo fans are used to seeing. Rantanen, known affectionately as “The Moose,” is slotted on Finland’s top line alongside Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund, forming a unit that leans heavily on familiarity - particularly with the Dallas Stars connection.
It’s a smart play by the Finnish coaching staff, banking on chemistry to set the tone early.
Lehkonen, meanwhile, brings a different flavor to the Finnish forward group. He’s not just a grinder - though he excels in that department - but a high-IQ player who thrives in the dirty areas, especially in front of the net.
While he might not be on the top line or the first power-play unit, don’t be surprised if his fingerprints are all over this game. He’ll start on the second power-play unit with Teuvo Teravainen, Eeli Tolvanen, and defenseman Mikko Lehtonen - a group that has the potential to do real damage if given space.
And while the lines may be set on paper, Olympic hockey is rarely static. Early in the tournament, coaches often tweak combinations to find the right rhythm, especially if a game tightens up or special teams play becomes a factor. So even though Rantanen and Lehkonen aren’t starting on the same unit, there's always a chance we’ll see them share the ice during partial line changes or situational shifts.
Historically, this matchup leans heavily in Finland’s favor. They hold an 18-1-3 all-time record against Slovakia, and they enter the tournament as the clear favorite in this head-to-head.
But Group B is no cakewalk. With Sweden - led by Gabe Landeskog - also in the mix, this group is shaping up to be the tournament’s “group of death.”
Every point matters, especially with the Olympic format awarding byes to the three group winners and the top second-place team based on points.
The 3-2-1 points system (three points for a regulation win, two for an OT win, one for an OT loss) means there’s little room for error. Teams aren’t just playing to win - they’re playing to win in regulation and avoid any extra minutes that could wear them down before the medal rounds.
For Finland, a strong start isn’t just about setting the tone - it’s about controlling their own path through a brutal bracket. And for players like Rantanen and Lehkonen, it’s a chance to bring their NHL-honed skill sets to the Olympic stage, this time wearing the same jersey - even if they’re not skating side by side.
The Olympic journey begins here, and for Finland, the mission is clear: win early, win clean, and set the pace for a deep run.