{"id":455732,"date":"2026-02-12T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/455732\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T16:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:00:22","slug":"lehkonens-effort-not-enough-as-slovakia-stuns-finland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/455732\/","title":{"rendered":"Lehkonen\u2019s Effort Not Enough As Slovakia Stuns Finland"},"content":{"rendered":"

MILAN \u2014 Artturi Lehkonen generated chances and recorded a point, but Finland had no answers for a relentless Slovak attack, falling 4\u20131 in Group B play Wednesday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.<\/p>\n

The final score suggests Slovakia controlled possession and dictated the pace throughout. In reality, Finland carried much of the play, outshooting Slovakia 40\u201325. It simply didn\u2019t translate to the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

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Juraj Slafkovsk\u00fd scored twice to lead the Slovak surge, Dalibor Dvorsk\u00fd netted the game-winner, and Adam Ru\u017ei\u010dka added another as Slovakia pulled away.<\/p>\n

Lehkonen\u2019s assist helped tie the game 1\u20131 just 4:15 into the second period, but it wasn\u2019t enough to spark Finland to victory in its Olympic opener. The Colorado Avalanche forward threaded a pass from the left wing to Joel Armia, who quickly set up Eeli Tolvanen for a one-timer at the doorstep to even the score.<\/p>\n

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From there, however, the game slipped away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had chances. At the end of the day, you have to capitalize on them,\u201d Lehkonen said afterward.<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old had two dangerous looks in the opening period, including a booming one-timer from the slot, but Samuel Hlavaj \u2014 a top Minnesota Wild prospect \u2014 was sharp in net. Hlavaj turned aside the blast with a stellar blocker save and consistently denied Finland during key stretches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to learn from our mistakes and scratch this game (from our memory) as fast as we can,\u201d Lehkonen added.<\/p>\n

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The matchup also marked the first time Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen played together since Rantanen\u2019s stunning trade from Colorado to the Carolina Hurricanes last season \u2014 a deal that brought Martin Ne\u010das and Jack Drury to the Avalanche. Rantanen was later moved again and signed an eight-year extension with the Dallas Stars upon arriving in Dallas.<\/p>\n

If there was any lingering tension between the two Finnish stars, Lehkonen made it clear there is none.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re good friends, so it\u2019s fun to play with (him).”<\/p>\n

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