Imagine the underdog rising to the occasion on the world’s biggest stage—that’s exactly what happened when Slovakia stunned Finland in the opening men’s hockey game of the Olympics. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was this a fluke, or is Slovakia poised to shake up the entire tournament? Let’s dive in.
Four years ago, Juraj Slafkovsky scored Slovakia’s only two goals in a lopsided loss to Finland at the Beijing Olympics. Fast forward to now, and history repeated itself—sort of. Slafkovsky once again lit the lamp twice, but this time, Slovakia emerged victorious with a commanding 4-1 win over Finland, kicking off the first Olympics featuring NHL players in over a decade with a jaw-dropping upset. 'This is way better—a way better feeling to win,' Slafkovsky said, capturing the sheer elation of the moment.
With Slafkovsky, the 2022 MVP, leading the charge and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj turning in a stellar performance (stopping 39 of 40 shots), Slovakia sent a clear message: don’t underestimate us. Despite having just seven NHL players compared to Finland’s roster of nearly all NHL talent, Slovakia proved they’re a force to be reckoned with. 'We’re kind of that team no one expects to win much,' alternate captain Martin Fehervary admitted. 'But I felt like this was the day. This was the time, and we did it.'
Slafkovsky, now a standout for the Montreal Canadiens, wasted no time making his mark, scoring the tournament’s first goal just eight minutes in. He later added a power-play goal, pumping his fist to the roaring crowd. Teammate Erik Cernak praised Slafkovsky’s consistency: 'I guess the Olympics are fitting to him. He’s playing well in Montreal, and now he’s brought the same play, same everything here.'
And this is the part most people miss: While Slafkovsky grabbed the headlines, it was Hlavaj’s heroics in net that kept Slovakia in the game. Facing an 18-5 shot deficit in the first period alone, Hlavaj stood tall, earning Fehervary’s praise as Slovakia’s best player. Even Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, whose team includes Hlavaj as a prospect, couldn’t help but cheer from afar: 'It’s great to see him get off to such a strong start.'
For Finland, the loss was a harsh wake-up call. Goaltender Juuse Saros, a Nashville Predators starter, struggled, allowing three goals on 24 shots. With archrival Sweden looming on Friday, Finland’s coaching staff may turn to Kevin Lankinen, who replaced Saros in a similar situation last year. 'It’s too early to say,' coach Antti Pennanen said, though he acknowledged Saros faced a tough game with limited shot opportunities.
Eeli Tolvanen scored Finland’s lone goal, while Adam Ruzicka sealed Slovakia’s victory with an empty-netter. Despite the setback, Finland’s captain Mikael Granlund remained composed: 'Obviously, it wasn’t the start we wanted, but we have another chance Friday. No panic—the most important games are ahead of us.'
As Sweden prepares to face host Italy later on Day 1, one thing is clear: this tournament is already full of surprises. But here’s the question: Can Slovakia sustain this momentum, or will they fade into the background? And is Finland’s early stumble a sign of deeper issues, or just a minor hiccup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is shaping up to be an Olympics to remember.
