slovakia storms into Olympic semifinals after 6-2 rout of Germany
MILAN — Slovakia punched its ticket to the Olympic semifinals with a convincing 6-2 victory over Germany on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), guaranteeing the small but fast-rising squad a place in a medal game. The win combined physical moments, clinical finishing and steady goaltending as the team announced itself as the tournament’s surprise contender.
Scare for Slafkovský, then a momentum-shifting burst
Early drama threatened to derail Slovakia when 21-year-old Juraj Slafkovský went head-first into the boards and lay motionless for several seconds before slowly rising and returning to the bench for treatment. Trainers quickly tended to him, stabilizing his neck with an ice pack, and he was able to rejoin the celebration that followed moments later.
That celebration erupted after Milos Kelemen’s slick backhand gave Slovakia a critical second-period spark. Kelemen weaved around Germany’s defense and beat the goaltender with a precise finish, and Oliver Okuliar followed 33 seconds later to turn a tight game into a rout. The pair of quick strikes deflated Germany and crystallized Slovakia’s control of the contest.
Balanced attack and timely goaltending
Slovakia’s offense came from all corners. Pavol Regenda delivered two goals and an assist, while Dalibor Dvorsky and Oliver Okuliar each chipped in with a goal and an assist. The team’s depth showed: contributors who spend most of their seasons outside the global spotlight produced when it mattered most.
Between the pipes, Samuel Hlavaj steadied the net with 25 saves, turning back several German chances to preserve Slovakia’s margin. The group’s chemistry and collective work rate were frequently cited by players after the game; veterans and young standouts combined to form a unit that has outperformed expectations throughout the tournament.
Slafkovský remains the face of this run. The 2022 top NHL draft pick entered the quarterfinal with an impressive scoring pace at these Games and has become a focal point for Slovak hopes, but the performance against Germany underscored that this is very much a team effort rather than a one-man story.
What’s next: medal certainty and gold talk
With the win, Slovakia is assured of playing for a medal and is set to meet the United States in the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 (ET). The prospect of standing on the Olympic podium has shifted from long-shot dream to tangible possibility for a nation that won bronze in Beijing 2022 under very different circumstances.
Many players insist the team will set sights even higher. “If we’re in the semifinal, you have to think about that, ” one defenseman said, reflecting the squad’s new belief in competing for gold rather than being content with another bronze. The young roster—featuring several NHL players among its 25—has already exceeded preseason expectations and now faces its sternest test: translating momentum into a place in the gold-medal game.
For a country that produced legends in past generations, this run has reignited national pride in the sport and delivered a reminder that hockey momentum can shift quickly. Slovakia’s march through the knockout stage is a story of preparation, grit and opportunistic finishing; the semifinals will show whether this team belongs among the very elite at these Winter Games.
