On Wednesday, the men's ice hockey tournament kicked off at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, with Slovakia claiming a significant victory against the reigning Olympic champions, Finland. They delivered a strong performance, winning 4:1 and showcasing their skills on the international stage. This marks a notable comeback for Slovakia, which had previously lost to Finland in the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

The match exhibited impressive moments, particularly from 21-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, who scored the first goal for Slovakia in the 8th minute of the first period. Finland managed to equalize at the start of the second period with a goal from Eeli Tolvanen. However, the momentum shifted decisively back to Slovakia, who found their rhythm and scored three goals in a critical ten-minute stretching at the end of the match, sealing the victory convincingly.

Slafkovsky expressed his ambitions for the tournament, stating his desire to score two goals in every game, and highlighted his awareness and timing in achieving today’s performance. Samuel Hlavaj played an essential role in Slovakia’s success as well, making a remarkable 39 saves against Finland’s attempts, reinforcing Slovakia's competitive edge as they aim for Olympic glory.