Slovakia Stuns Finland in Olympic Tournament Opener Behind Juraj Slafkovský's Two Goals

The Milano Cortina Olympics men's hockey tournament opened with an upset that signals Slovakia's return to international relevance. A team that spent most of the 2010s wandering in the wilderness announced they're back emphatically, downing defending Olympic champion Finland 4-1 at Santagiulia Arena.Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovský led the charge with two goals, including a power-play dagger in the third period that put the game out of reach. The 21-year-old first overall pick from 2022 continues building on a strong NHL season where he's tallied 45 points through 57 games.From the moment the game began, Slovakia looked in control, with Slafkovsky netting a goal within minutes of the start. The Canadiens forward made sure to bring the same offensive punch to the international stage that had kept Montreal near the top of the standings.Finland, for their part, did try their best by controlling possession for long stretches, outshooting Slovakia 39-23. A second-period shot from Eeli Tolvanen gave the Finns a bit of respite by leveling the scores, but it didn’t continue for long.Finland simply couldn't solve Samuel Hlavaj. The Minnesota Wild farmhand, who's struggled mightily in the AHL this season, delivered the performance of his career when it mattered most, making 38 saves and allowing the opponents just one goal.St. Louis Blues forward Dalibor Dvorský broke a scoreless tie with 12:40 remaining in regulation. After an initial shot was blocked, the puck fell to his feet, and he buried it to give Slovakia the lead they wouldn't relinquish.Finland pressed hard for an equalizer, generating scoring chances and throwing everything at Hlavaj. The pressure felt inevitable, with one of hockey's Big Four nations hammering away at Slovakia's crease.Slovakia weathered the storm and cashed in on the power play with less than 10 minutes remaining. New Jersey Devils defenseman Šimon Nemec centered the puck to Slafkovský with open ice ahead. He drifted forward and uncorked a wrister that ricocheted off the crossbar and in for his second goal of the afternoon, extending the lead to 3-1.Finland couldn't recover. Adam Ruzicka sealed the upset with an empty-net goal after Finland's top players failed to defend properly, allowing Slovakia to skate away with a stunning 4-1 victory.This wasn't the deepest Slovakia roster, but their recipe worked perfectly. Solid goaltending combined with their high-end skill players converting chances proved enough to topple one of hockey's traditional powers.Slovakia returns to action Friday morning when they face host nation Italy at 6:10 a.m. ET. Finland looks to regroup against Sweden the same morning as Group B play continues in Milan.