Slovakia Stuns Defending Champs Finland with Statement Win to Open Olympic Hockey Tournament
In the first game of the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament, Slovakia didn’t just show up-they made a statement. The defending bronze medalists took down the reigning Olympic champions, Finland, with a commanding 4-1 victory in Milan, setting the tone for what could be a wide-open tournament.
Juraj Slafkovský, already a national hero in Slovakia and a rising star with the Montreal Canadiens, led the charge with two goals. Samuel Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect, was a wall in net, stopping 38 of 39 shots and frustrating a Finnish offense that peppered him all night long.
Let’s break down how Slovakia pulled off the tournament’s first major upset.
First Period: Slafkovský Strikes First, Hlavaj Stands Tall
Finland came out with the kind of pace and puck control you’d expect from a defending champion. They owned possession early, testing Hlavaj with a barrage of high-danger chances.
Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen had a pair of prime looks from the slot, including a blistering one-timer that Hlavaj turned away with a lightning-quick blocker save. The Slovak goalie was locked in from the jump.
But it was a Finnish mistake that cracked the game open.
At 12:15, Mikko Lehtonen coughed up the puck in his own zone, and Slafkovský pounced. He gathered the turnover, took a beat to assess his options, then undressed Juuse Saros with a smooth deke before sliding the puck into an open net. Just like that, Slovakia had the lead-despite being outshot and out-possessed.
Finland had a chance to respond late in the period when Tomáš Tatar was called for tripping Niko Mikkola, giving the Finns their first power play. They generated some good looks, including a Mikko Rantanen wrister that just missed the mark. Rantanen’s frustration boiled over as he slammed his stick to the ice-an early sign that Finland knew they were in for a battle.
As the horn sounded, tensions flared. Joel Armia got whistled for roughing in the post-whistle scrum, giving Slovakia a power play to start the second period.
Second Period: Tolvanen Equalizes, But Hlavaj Keeps It Tied
Finland killed off the early penalty and quickly flipped the momentum. After Matuš Sukeľ was called for holding Rantanen, the Finns went back on the power play-and this time, they cashed in.
At 4:15, Eeli Tolvanen hammered home a one-timer from the slot off a crisp feed from Armia, knotting the game at 1-1. Lehkonen picked up the secondary assist, and suddenly the Finnish bench had life.
But Hlavaj wasn’t about to let the game slip away.
Slafkovský nearly answered midway through the period, but Saros came up big with a sharp pad save. Then, with time winding down in the frame, Lehkonen had another golden chance in the slot-only to be denied again by Hlavaj, who slid across to make a stunning pad stop and keep the game tied heading into the third.
Third Period: Dvorský Delivers, Slafkovský Seals It
Despite being outshot 35-20 at that point, Slovakia kept pressing-and it paid off.
At 12:40 of the third, Dalibor Dvorský, the promising St. Louis Blues forward, capitalized on a defensive breakdown.
Sebastian Aho lost his footing, and Dvorský took full advantage, collecting a pass in stride and ripping a shot over Saros’ glove to give Slovakia a 2-1 lead. It was his first Olympic goal, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment.
Slafkovský wasn’t done yet.
Just three minutes later, with Miro Heiskanen in the box for delay of game, Slovakia’s power play went to work. Šimon Nemec made a heads-up play to keep the puck in at the blue line and found Slafkovský in the high slot.
The Canadiens winger didn’t miss, ripping a laser over Saros’ shoulder for his second of the night-and ninth Olympic goal in just eight games. That made it 3-1 and put Slovakia firmly in control.
Closing Time: Slovakia Slams the Door
With under six minutes to go, Rasmus Ristolainen delivered a heavy hit on Martin Pospíšil, who stayed down briefly before skating off under his own power. No penalty was called, but the physicality underscored the desperation setting in for Finland.
Saros was pulled for the extra attacker with just under five minutes remaining, but Slovakia’s defense held strong. After a scramble in front, Adam Ružička-currently with the Dallas Stars-found the puck and backhanded it into the empty net to ice the game at 4-1.
What This Win Means
This wasn’t just a good start for Slovakia-it was a statement. They didn’t just beat the defending champs; they out-executed them in the moments that mattered. Slafkovský looked every bit the Olympic force he was in 2022, and Hlavaj’s performance in net was the kind that can carry a team deep into the tournament.
Finland, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly. The talent is there, and they controlled long stretches of play, but they couldn’t solve Hlavaj when it counted, and a few defensive lapses proved costly.
If this opening game is any indication, the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament is going to be a wild ride. And Slovakia? They’re not just here to compete-they’re here to contend.