Slovakia and Finland Shine at the 2026 Winter Olympics Hockey Tournament
The Olympic hockey tournament in Milan is already delivering excitement, with Slovakia and Finland making strong statements on Friday, February 13, 2026. Slovakia continued their impressive run with a 3-2 victory over Italy, while Finland bounced back from an earlier defeat to overcome Sweden 4-1.
Slovakia Maintains Winning Streak
Slovakia’s 3-2 win against Italy showcased their ability to secure victories even in tight contests. Despite a late push from the home team, with Italy scoring to bring the game to 3-2, Slovakia held on. Key contributors included Libor Hudáček and Matúš Sukeľ, both players from the Slovak Extraliga, and goaltender Stanislav Škorvánek. This victory puts Slovakia in a strong position, needing only to match Sweden’s results to secure direct qualification to the quarter-finals.
Finland Overcomes Sweden in Nordic Clash
Following their surprising loss to Slovakia, Finland responded emphatically with a 4-1 win against Sweden. The Finns demonstrated improved efficiency, silencing critics who had questioned the team’s dynamics. Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers scored the decisive goal. Finland now has a record of one win and one loss.
Game Details: Finland vs. Sweden
The match between Finland and Sweden saw Finland take an early lead, scoring twice in the first period. Matinpalo and Lundell found the back of the net for Finland. Sweden managed to respond in the second period with a goal from Dahlin, but Finland extended their lead with goals from Armia and Rantanen, securing a 4-1 victory.
FINLAND – SWEDEN 4:1 (2:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Goals: 8. Matinpalo (Kakko, Määttä), 16. Lundell (Luostarinen, Mikkola), 33. Armia (Haula, Lindell), 60. Rantanen (Granlund) – 25. Dahlin (Nylander, Raymond).
Game Details: Italy vs. Slovakia
The game between Italy and Slovakia was a closely contested affair. Hudáček and Sukeľ gave Slovakia a 2-0 lead in the second period, but Italy fought back, scoring in the second and third periods to produce it a one-goal game. Ružička added an insurance goal for Slovakia.
ITALY – SLOVAKIA 2:3 (0:0, 1:2, 1:1)
Goals: 38. Bradley (Pietroniro, Gazley), 57. Gazley (T. Larkin, Pietroniro) – 24. Hudáček (Slafkovský, Dvorský), 34. Sukeľ (Liška, Cingel), 52. Ružička (Regenda, Gernát).
Group B Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | W | OT | L | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Slovakia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| 2. | Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 3. | Finland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 4. | Italy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
Upcoming Games
Friday, February 13th:
16:40 France – Czech Republic (Group A)
21:10 Canada – Switzerland (Group A)
Saturday, February 14th:
12:10 Sweden – Slovakia (Group B)
16:40 Finland – Italy (Group B)
FAQ
Q: Who won the game between Slovakia and Italy?
A: Slovakia won 3-2.
Q: What was the score of the Finland vs. Sweden game?
A: Finland won 4-1.
Q: Where are the Olympic hockey games being held?
A: The games are being held in Milan.
