Juraj Slafkovský leads Slovakia to upset win over Finland at Olympics

The 21-year-old Montreal Canadiens prospect scored two goals and added an assist in Slovakia's 4-1 victory.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Juraj Slafkovský, the 2022 first overall draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, delivered a standout performance to lead Slovakia to a 4-1 upset victory over Finland in their opening game of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Slafkovský scored the opening goal, added another in the third period, and assisted on the empty-net clincher as Slovakia stunned the heavily favored Finns.

Why it matters

Slafkovský's dominant showing reinforces his status as a rising star for Slovakia and the Canadiens. After helping lead Slovakia to a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the 21-year-old forward is poised to play an even bigger role this time around as his country aims to make a deep run in the tournament.

The details

Slafkovský opened the scoring for Slovakia in the first period, then added an insurance goal in the third to make it 3-1. When Finland pulled their goalie late, Slafkovský lost his stick but still managed to set up the empty-net goal to seal the victory. His teammates and coaches were effusive in their praise, with goaltender Samuel Hlavaj saying Slafkovský "performed like a No. 1 draft pick."

  • Slovakia opened the 2026 Winter Olympics with their game against Finland on Wednesday.

The players

Juraj Slafkovský

A 21-year-old forward for the Montreal Canadiens, who was the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Samuel Hlavaj

The goaltender for Slovakia, who is a prospect of the Minnesota Wild but was never drafted into the NHL.

Tomáš Tatar

A forward for Slovakia who assisted on the empty-net goal to seal the victory.

Adam Ružička

A forward for Slovakia who also assisted on the empty-net goal.

Martin Fehérváry

A defenseman for Slovakia who plays for the Washington Capitals in the NHL.

Šimon Nemec

A defenseman for Slovakia who was drafted 2nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2022, making history with Slafkovský as the top two picks.

Vladimir Országh

The head coach of the Slovak national hockey team.

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What they’re saying

“He performed like a No. 1 draft pick.”

— Samuel Hlavaj, Goaltender, Slovakia

“If your best player is playing his best hockey, then the team is playing great. We know he's still 21, so he's not going to do that every night. But if he's going to do that, then we've got a chance to win the game, like we did.”

— Šimon Nemec, Defenseman, Slovakia

“Look at his stats and his performance, he's the best player, best offensive guy we have on the team. We expect big things to happen for him, and he did it. He scored crucial goals, critical goals, but it wasn't just about him. I wouldn't just talk about Juraj. He was great today, but so were the other 21 guys on the team.”

— Vladimir Országh, Head Coach, Slovakia

What’s next

Slovakia will look to build on their upset win over Finland when they face off against the United States on Friday.

The takeaway

Juraj Slafkovský's dominant performance in Slovakia's opening Olympic win showcases his immense talent and potential as a rising star for both his national team and the Montreal Canadiens. His ability to rise to the occasion on the big stage bodes well for Slovakia's chances of making a deep run in the tournament.