Veteran forward Tomas Tatar warns Slovakia to brace for a tough Olympic clash with host Italy

Veteran forward Tomas Tatar has reportedly warned Team Slovakia ahead of their match against Italy, as he believes that it is not going to be an easy matchup against the host nation in the upcoming Winter Olympics men's hockey game. Following a win with a 4-1 score over Finland, Tatar has emphasized the need for focus ahead of Friday's showdown at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. According to the NHL, Team Slovakia also feels that they still have work to do in Group B at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The team is meanwhile planning to maintain full intensity without easing up, even after a win.Tomas Tatar is serving as the captain and one of the marquee players who has proved it with his skills, playing techniques, and game planning strategy. He has been one of the key contributors to Slovakia's win against Finland, with an assist in 16:33 of ice time on Slovakia's top line, alongside his team members Juraj Slafkovsky and Adam Ruzicka.Team Slovakia captain Tomas Tatar has asked his team to bring on full focus and intensity in Friday's Group B matchup against host nation Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, saying that the host country, Italy, should not be underestimated at this level of competition. Team Slovakia will play its second match after its 4-1 victory against Finland. Meanwhile, Italy lost 5-2 to Sweden on Wednesday at the preliminaries, but the game was tied 2-2 until late in the second period, as reported by NHL.com.Sharing about Italy’s team strength, the veteran forward stated, "We watched the game ... they were good. Everybody at this level is playing really well. I don't think any team can come here and feel like it's going to be an easy ride. It's a battle every game, and we have to be ready. I'm going to talk to the guys, and I'm going to try to make sure the team is the best prepared for the game."Adding further, if the team follows the planned strategy and executes it, they can continue their chase for Gold. "I think it just showed to our group that if we do everything we planned for the game and we stick to the system and we don't look for individual (success), we play collectively as a team, we can do some damage," the 14-year NHL veteran and Slovakia’s captain said. "I bet on us in every game in this tournament, and very happy we showed it to ourselves and proved it to ourselves that we can play," he further added. (source: NHL)As for Tatar’s profile, he has 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists) in 36 games this season with Zug in the National League, the top professional league in Switzerland. Moreover, he has significant contributions in the NHL, too. Tatar played 14 seasons in the NHL from 2010-25 with the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken. Within this timeline, the veteran forward has scored at least 20 goals seven times and had 496 points (227 goals, 269 assists) in 927 games. He also had 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 56 Stanley Cup Playoff games. But last season, he had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) and averaged 11:06 of ice time in 74 games with the Devils, according to the NHL.It is to be noted that Slovakia will lock horns with Italy in an exciting Olympic hockey match on Friday, February 13, 2026. The game starts at 6:10 a.m. ET at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.