Slovakia Advances to Olympic Quarters; Finland Scores Biggest Win Since 1988

In a thrilling turn of events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Slovakia has successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s hockey tournament. This achievement came after a dramatic finish, where Slovakia secured their spot due to goal differential in a three-way tie despite a recent loss to Sweden.

Slovakia’s Road to the Quarterfinals

On February 14, 2026, Slovakia faced Sweden in their final preliminary round game. Despite losing 5-3, Slovakia celebrated their advancement to the quarterfinals thanks to a key goal scored by Dalibor Dvorsky with just 39 seconds remaining. His power play goal was pivotal in determining the group’s top position through tiebreakers.

Juraj Slafkovsky, Slovakia’s reigning Olympic MVP, expressed mixed feelings, labeling the loss as “the best loss I ever had.” Dvorsky echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s focus and execution under pressure.

Finland’s Historic Victory

Finland delivered a historic performance against host Italy, securing an overwhelming 11-0 victory. This win marked the largest margin in Olympic men’s hockey since 1988. Finnish stars like Sebastian Aho and Mikael Granlund each tallied two goals, contributing to the rout.

Italy’s captain, Thomas Larkin, acknowledged the sting of the defeat, highlighting the impact on their pride and standings. Finland’s coach, Antti Pennanen, ensured that players understood the need for scoring, which played a crucial role in their strategy against Italy.

Other Tournament Highlights

• Latvia’s Upset Over Germany: Latvia pulled off a surprising 4-3 victory against Germany, thanks to goals from Eduards Tralmaks and Renars Krastenbergs.
• Strong Goaltending: Arturs Silovs made 26 saves for Latvia, demonstrating strong defensive capabilities.
• Germany’s Struggles: Philipp Grubauer faced challenges in goal, conceding four out of 22 shots.

The tournament continues to unfold, with teams jockeying for position. Germany will face the U.S. on February 15, eager to recover from their recent setback.

As the competition heats up, Slovakia, Finland, and Latvia have made significant strides toward Olympic glory, setting the stage for an exciting quarterfinal round.