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A Montreal Canadiens star shined in the opening game of the men’s 2026 Olympic hockey tournament, silencing critics along the way.
Team Slovakia pulled off a stunning upset on Wednesday over Finland in the first match of the men’s portion of the Olympic hockey tourney. Slovakia stunned Finland with a 4-1 win on the heels of two goals by Montreal Canadiens star Juraj Slafkovsky. The 21-year-old notched two tallies, including the insurance goal late in the third period, to give the Slovakian side an unlikely win.
The former first-overall pick opened the scoring in the first period with an unassisted goal at the 7:45 mark. The Finnish side tied the game midway through the second period on a goal by Seattle Kraken star Eeli Tolvanen.
However, the tie wouldn’t last long as Team Slovakia scored a little over seven minutes into the final frame on a goal by St. Louis Blues forward Dalibor Dvorsky. Then, Slafkovsky added a power play tally to make the game 3-1. New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec and Dvorsky assisted on the goals.
Slovakia added an empty-netter, with Slafkovsky drawing an assist on the tally. All told, the Canadiens star notched two goals and one assist for three points on the night. It was a fantastic performance, one that silenced any of his remaining critics.
Slafkovsky has come under fire at times for seemingly going stretches without scoring. That’s changed this season. Entering the Olympics, the Canadiens’ top-line winger had scored 21 goals and 45 points in 57 games. He has carried that strong play into the Olympics.
Now, the Slovakian side will look towards their next game on Saturday when they play the host Italian side.
Slafkovsky’s Play Showcases Talent
Slafkovsky’s first three seasons weren’t precisely a showcase of his talent. The Canadiens picked the Slovakian forward first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Habs faced scrutiny by picking Slafkovsky over other players like fellow countryman Simon Nemec, center Logan Cooley, or other current NHL mainstays like Marco Kasper, Shane Wright, and Jimmy Snuggerud.
That said, Slafkovsky got off to a slow start with the Canadiens. He notched 10 points in his first 39 games, but seemingly bounced back with back-to-back 50-point seasons. His 20 goals in 2023-24 were a sign of things to come.
However, the talk had been that Slafkovsky’s development had slowed down. At that point, questions emerged about the Slovakian star being another first-overall bust.
But that’s changed this season. He’s well on pace to blow past his career-highs. Plus, the Olympic nod reassured that he’s among the best in the world. And on Wednesday night, he took a major step forward.
Canadiens Fans Will See Another Favorite on Thursday
Canadiens fans will get a chance to see another favorite on Thursday. Nick Suzuki and Team Canada will square off against Czechia in their opening match. The much-anticipated debut of the Canadian squad should have plenty of hockey fans on their feet.
Suzuki will be looking to lead his side past a highly talented opponent. Hopefully, Canadiens fans will see two favorites star in back-to-back days as part of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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