The Slovak ice hockey team has secured a place in the medal competition at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan by defeating Germany with a convincing score of 6:2 in the quarterfinals. Key players such as Samuel Hlavaj, who made 25 saves despite conceding two goals, and Pavol Regenda, who scored twice, were instrumental in this victory. Other contributors included Miloš Kelemen, Oliver Okuliar, Dalibor Dvorský, and Tomáš Tatar, who sealed the win by scoring into an empty net.

Rasťo Staňa, a former goalkeeper, praised the offense led by Kelemen, highlighting its strength and physicality which had not been seen before in the Slovak team. Dominik Graňák, a record-holder in the national team, pointed out that Slovakia adopted a 'German-style' game, emphasizing discipline and physical play, which they executed better than their opponents. This strategic approach was critical in overcoming a team that had been traditionally strong in these areas.

The scheduling of the tournament also played a role in the match's outcome, as noted by Branko Radivojevič. Slovakia's prior game had been on Saturday, giving them a rest advantage over Germany, who had played three matches in four days. This fatigue may have impacted the German team's performance, particularly in the latter half of the game, allowing Slovakia to capitalize and secure their spot in the semifinals, where they will aim to continue their quest for Olympic medals.