Juraj Slafkovsky scores twice as Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 to open the Milan Cortina Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky had Slovakia's only two goals four years ago in the first men's hockey game at the Beijing Olympics, a convincing loss to Finland.

Slafkovsky again scored twice in the tournament opener. Only this time, Slovakia upset Finland 4-1 Wednesday to get the first Olympics with NHL players in more than a decade off to a stunning start.

“This is way better — a way better feeling to win," Slafkovsky said.

With Slafkovsky, the MVP in 2022, picking up where he left off at the Olympics and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced, Slovakia served noticed by knocking off a medal favorite that it should not be taken lightly despite having only seven NHL players, while all but one on Finland’s roster plays in the league.

“We are kind of that team no one’s really expecting us to win much of the games," alternate captain Martin Fehervary said. “We haven’t won against Finland for a long, long time. I felt like this is the day. I felt like this is the time, and we did it.”

Slafkovsky, who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, scored the first goal of this tournament less than eight minutes in, skating through Finland's defense and sliding the puck past a helpless Juuse Saros. After Dalibor Dvorsky scored with 13 minutes left to put Slovakia ahead, Slafkovsky wired a shot past Saros on the power play and pumped his fist to the crowd.

“I guess the Olympics are fitting to him," defenseman Erik Cernak said. “He’s playing well at the Olympics. I’m really happy for him. He’s playing well in Montreal. Now, he brought the same play, same everything.”

Hlavaj had a lot to do with the initial underdog story on the ice, fending off one onslaught after another as Slovakia was outshot 18-5 in the first period and 40-25 overall. Fehervary called Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect playing in the American Hockey League in Iowa, Slovakia's best player.

“To be honest, I’ve never seen him play before," Cernak said. "But he was outstanding. He kept us in it in important moments.”

Unable to watch while the U.S. team he runs was practicing next door, Wild general manager Bill Guerin said “it's great” that Hlavaj got off to such a strong start at the Olympics.

It was not so good for Saros, the Nashville Predators starter who allowed three goals on 24 shots in defeat. Finland next plays archrival Sweden on Friday, and it's possible Vancouver's Kevin Lankinen gets the nod, just as he did in replacing Saros in net at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago.

“It’s too early to say,” Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. “I like how Juuse played, and it wasn’t an easy game for him because not that many shots.”

Eeli Tolvanen, also a returning Olympian after playing in 2018, scored Finland's only goal. Adam Ruzicka scored into an empty net to seal it for Slovakia and deal Finland an unexpected early defeat.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the start we wanted,” captain Mikael Granlund said. "But yep, now we have another chance Friday against Sweden. But we all know the most important games are ahead of us. No panic.’’

Sweden faces host Italy in the nightcap of Day 1.

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