Milan, Italy — February 11, 2026: Slovakia opened the Milano Cortina 2026 men’s hockey tournament with a statement win, riding a three-point night from Juraj Slafkovsky and a brilliant 39-save performance from Samuel Hlavaj to topple Finland 4–1 in Group B.
The result lands as an early jolt in a group stacked with pressure and pedigree. Finland arrived with expectations of a deep run, but Slovakia’s pace, physical edge, and goaltending made the opener feel one-sided long before the final horn.
Slafkovsky set the tone in the first period, forcing a turnover in the right circle and driving hard to the net before sliding a forehand finish past Juuse Saros for a 1–0 lead. It was the kind of power-forward moment that made him such a feared Olympic presence in 2022 — and it instantly tilted the ice toward Slovakia.
Finland’s push came in waves, especially early, but Hlavaj stood tall through sustained pressure. He turned away chance after chance, holding the line with clean positioning and calm rebounds as Finland tried to settle into its rhythm.
The Finns finally broke through in the second period when Eeli Tolvanen hammered a one-timer off a feed from Joel Armia near the far post, drawing the game level at 1–1. It looked, briefly, like Finland might grind its way back into control.
Instead, Slovakia’s third period turned the opener into a warning shot for the rest of the tournament. Dalibor Dvorsky restored the lead by slamming a loose puck through traffic, and then Slafkovsky took over again on the power play — receiving a pass high in the zone, cutting into the slot, and ripping a shot through the middle to make it 3–1.
With Saros pulled late, Adam Ruzicka sealed it with an empty-netter for the 4–1 final. Slovakia finished the night with a scoreboard that didn’t just reflect efficiency — it reflected control, composure, and a goaltender who refused to blink.
For Slovakia, the opener reinforced a familiar formula: Slafkovsky driving play from the front, and an organized team structure making life miserable for opponents in the neutral zone. For Finland, it’s an early wake-up call before a fierce rivalry game next, with little time to dwell on missed chances.
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Slovakia’s win won’t decide Group B on its own, but it immediately changes the feel of the standings — and puts the spotlight right back on Slafkovsky as one of this tournament’s most dangerous game-breakers.
Official recap (outbound source): NHL.com game recap
