Olympics: Juraj Slafkovský Scores Twice In Slovakia’s 4-1 Win

Photo: Petr David Josek

Slovakia opened its 2026 Winter Olympics campaign with a statement win on Wednesday, knocking off defending gold medalist Finland, 4–1, at Santagiulia Arena behind a dominant performance from Juraj Slafkovský. The Montreal Canadiens forward recorded two goals and an assist, restoring the lead after Eeli Tolvanen briefly tied the game and sealing it with his second before Adam Ružička added insurance late. Slovakia faces Italy on Friday, while Finland turns its attention to Sweden.

Slovakia Lineup

Forwards
Tatar – Ruzicka – Slafkovský
Liska – Dvorsky – Hudacek
Kelemen – Pospisil – Regenda
Takac – Sukel – Okuliar

Defense
Fehervary – Nemec
Gernat – Cernak
Marincin – Ceresnak

Goaltenders
Hlavaj
Gajan

Finland Lineup

Forwards
Rantanen – Hintz – Granlund
Lehkonen – Aho – Teravainen
Luostarinen – Lundell – Kakko
Tolvanen – Haula – Armia

Defense
Lindell – Heiskanen
Mikkola – Ristolainen
Maatta – Jokiharju

Goaltenders
Saros
Lankinen

Game Recap

Juraj Slafkovský opened the scoring to give Slovakia a 1–0 lead just under eight minutes into the first period, finding the net with 12:15 on the clock for the first goal of the Milano Cortina tournament. He intercepted Mikko Lehtonen’s pass along the right wall, skated through Finland’s defense, and slid the puck past Juuse Saros.

Finland answered early in the middle frame to tie it 1–1 at 15:45. Eeli Tolvanen slipped one past Samuel Hlavaj on the power play after a crisp passing sequence. Joel Armia gathered the puck from Teuvo Teräväinen at the blue line and moved it to Artturi Lehkonen. Lehkonen returned the puck to Armia, who then fed Tolvanen just inside the left circle for the finish.

Dalibor Dvorský restored Slovakia’s lead at 12:40 of the third period, making it 2–1. He lifted a loose puck over Finnish defender Sebastian Aho, who had fallen in front of the net, just managing to get it across the goal line after Martin Gernát fired from near the blue line off a pass from Adam Liška.

Slafkovský struck again just under three minutes later to extend the lead to 3–1, wiring a power-play blast past Saros. With little time remaining and Finland’s net empty, Adam Ružička sealed the 4–1 victory for Slovakia. He finished a sequence that started with Slafkovský and moved through Tomáš Tatar before depositing the puck into the empty net.

Notes

Juraj Slafkovský opened the scoring at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. He was just 17 when he won MVP, Best Forward, and All-Star honors at the 2022 Games, leading the tournament with seven goals and helping Slovakia win bronze.

Slafkovský became the first Slovak NHL player to score at an Olympics with NHL participation since Marian Hossa in 2014. His goal at 7:45 was the eighth-fastest by a Slovak player to start an Olympic game featuring NHL players. The fastest remains Jozef Stumpel’s goal 11 seconds in on Feb. 10, 2002.

Eeli Tolvanen (SEA) scored Finland’s first goal of the tournament, assisted by Joel Armia (LAK) and Artturi Lehkonen (COL). It was the first time since Feb. 22, 2014, that three NHL players combined on a Finnish Olympic goal. Tolvanen’s goal put Finland on the board. He was named to the 2018 Olympic All-Star Team after posting nine points (3-6—9) in five games.

Dalibor Dvorsky (20 years, 241 days) scored in the third period to give Slovakia the lead, becoming the youngest Slovak to score at an Olympics featuring NHL players.

Slafkovský became the second Canadiens player to score twice in a Winter Olympic game, joining Martin Rucinsky (Feb. 15, 1998). He is now the third NHL player to record a multi-goal Olympic game for Slovakia, joining Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik.

Slafkovský (MTL) has a chance to become the first NHL player with an Olympic hat trick since Phil Kessel on Feb. 16, 2014. With three points (2-1—3), Slafkovský became the third Canadiens player to record a three-point Olympic game, joining Sergei Kostitsyn and Saku Koivu.

Slovakia earned its first Olympic win with NHL players since defeating Sweden in the quarterfinals at the 2010 Games.

Samuel Hlavaj, part of the Wild organization and primarily with AHL Iowa this season, made 39 saves. This was the most by a Slovak goalie at an NHL-participating Olympics, surpassing Jan Laco’s 37 in 2014.

Dvorsky (20 years, 241 days) became the second-youngest NHL player to score an Olympic game-winner, behind only Alex Ovechkin (20 years, 158 days in 2006).