In the Olympic opener, Finland's ice hockey team, featuring only seven NHL players, faced an unexpected defeat against Slovakia, with a final score of 4-1. The standout for Slovakia was Juraj Slafkovsky, currently with the Montreal Canadiens, who made a significant impact by scoring two goals and providing an assist. Despite the loss, Finland's only goal came from Eeli Tolvanen.

The Finnish public is understandably distressed about the team's performance, but Iltalehti's ice hockey expert Pekka Virta offered a calm perspective on the loss. He emphasized that it's premature to draw conclusions based on a single game and defended the players' attitudes, pointing out that while there were moments of strong play, such as hits and blocks, the final score is what ultimately defines the game. He suggested that the situation is complicated by the team's adjustment to a new time zone and their limited time together as a squad.

Looking ahead, Virta acknowledged the challenges posed by the early days of their time in Europe, and urged fans not to overreact to one match’s outcome. The team must build on their experiences and cohesion moving forward in the tournament. This initial setback could serve as a learning opportunity for the Finnish players as they seek to regain confidence and improve in subsequent games, considering the high expectations they face as a representative of their country in the Olympics.