The Italian ice hockey team suffered its second defeat in the Milan-Cortina 2026 men's tournament, narrowly losing 3-2 to Slovakia after previously falling to Sweden. Despite the loss, the Azzurri showed commendable spirit and teamwork, managing to stay competitive throughout the match against one of the top teams in the world, which had recently secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics. The match, held at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, highlighted a number of positive indicators for Italy as they looked to improve their standings.

In the Group B standings, Slovakia leads with 6 points, while Italy remains at zero following their two losses. The Azzurri's performance in the match was characterized by an active first period, where they created several scoring opportunities despite fewer shots on goal compared to their opponents. Italy's efforts were nullified by Slovakia's goalie, Skorvanek, who successfully thwarted their attempts to take the lead and maintain pressure throughout the game.

Although Italy has not yet been eliminated from the tournament, they will need to secure a victory in their final match against Finland on Saturday to keep their hopes alive. With several key takeaways from their recent performances, the team remains optimistic despite their current standings, as they strive to earn their first points in the competition and build a foundation for future successes in the tournament.