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.
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.
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.
Eeli Tolvanen, who already scored the first playoff goal in Seattle Kraken history, is now the first member of the team to score in the Olympics.
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.
In Olympic history, Canada has won nine gold medals in the men's hockey tournament, and they're expected to contend for it at Milan Cortina alongside the United States. The rival North American countries last met in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off final and Canada defeated the U.S. in overtime.
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.
Finland women’s hockey team’s preliminary round-opening game against Canada on Thursday has been postponed due to a stomach virus depleting Finland’s roster.