In their historically third Olympic semifinal, Slovakia's ice hockey team suffered a disappointing 2:6 loss to the United States, which means they will continue to miss the opportunity to compete in the final of this prestigious international tournament. Analysts had predicted a higher chance of a significant loss for the Slovaks, emphasizing the substantial disparity in quality between the two teams on paper.

The game confirmed these expectations as the Americans took an assertive lead early on, finishing the second period with a commanding 5:0 advantage. The chances for Slovakia to win were calculated at around 10 percent before the match, and the early developments of the game showcased that this was not one of those rare instances where Slovakia could turn the odds in their favor. Only in the third period did Slovak players manage to score, with goals from Juraj Slafkovský and Pavol Regenda, but those efforts came too late in the face of a dominant American performance.

The conclusion of the match was a mix of bitterness and positivity; even though Slovakia couldn't secure a victory, they demonstrated their perseverance by creating scoring opportunities towards the end, showcasing their resilience and determination to fight until the final buzzer. This experience, while disappointing, provides a foundation for future competitions, and highlights the potential that Slovakia has to build upon moving forward in international ice hockey.