Canucks' Kevin Lankinen and Finland lost 4-1 to Slovakia, while Elias Pettersson and Sweden won 5-2 against Italy in their first games of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj played the hero for Slovakia, delivering a sensational performance that powered his team to a 4-1 win.
In the first game of the men's hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics, there has already been an upset, with Slovakia defeating Finland.
Lehtonen is not the only player on Team Finland with Olympic experience. Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen was playing for HIFK in Liiga, Finland's top hockey league, and Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen with Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League, when they were Lehtonen's teammates at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 begins Wednesday when the 12 nations compete in three groups. Group A consists of Canada, Czechia, France and Switzerland. Finland, Italy, Sweden and Slovakia will play in Group B. Group C features Denmark, Germany, Latvia and the United States.
If Sweden and Finland aren't at the top of Group B at the conclusion of the preliminary round, then the Olympics will have turned upside down.
A pivotal Group A matchup is set for Sunday night in Milan, as Czechia prepares to take on Finland in women’s ice hockey action at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Jordan Stolz emerged as the breakout star of these Games while Madison Chock and Evan Bates came up just short of gold
Day 5 of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics included another eight gold medals being earned, headlined by Jordan Stolz of Team USA in the men's speedskating 1,000-meter. The American phenom entered the event as a heavy favorite,
Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice as Slovakia stunned defending Olympic champions Finland 4-1 in the opening game of the Milano Cortina men's ice hockey tournament on Wednesday in front of a packed house at Santagiulia Arena.
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