Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The 21-year-old Slovak scored two goals in the opening game of the men’s hockey schedule, helping Slovakia put together an upset versus Finland, to the tune of a 4-1 victory. He also added an assist to his tally when Adam Ruzicka scored an empty-net goal.
It should be noted that Canadiens rookie Oliver Kapanen did not play for Finland, and watched the game from the press box as a healthy scratch. Considering how well young players performed for Slovakia, it’s fair to suggest Finland may want to re-evaluate Kapanen’s usage going forward.
Montreal Canadiens At The Olympics
This is not the first time Slafkovsky has displayed a hot hand at the Olympics. One of the driving forces behind his No.1 draft position was his performance at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where Slafkovsky was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, with seven goals in seven games.
The opening goal of the game versus Finland was further proof Slafkovsky is enjoying a heightened level of confidence, as it saw him drive to the net and use his reach to beat Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saaros.
HOCKEY H – Juraj Slafkovsky débloque son compteur! 🇸🇰🔥
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) February 11, 2026
Le jeune prodige des Canadiens de Montréal fait vibrer les filets olympiques pour lancer le tournoi. C'est 1-0 pour la Slovaquie face à la Finlande. 🏒#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #hockey #jeuxolympiques pic.twitter.com/Qu8PNYHZMH
With the score 2-1 in favour of Slovakia, Slafkovsky gave his team the always important insurance goal, using a fantastic release to fool Saros, and push the score to 3-1. It was the type of shot that Canadiens fans hope to see with more regularity once Slafkvosky returns to Montreal, especially since he’s the elder statesman on a line that needs a certain amount of direction due to their lack of NHL experience.
By scoring two goals and an assist in the opening game, it’s clear he’s in the running for yet another MVP award at the Olympics. Most importantly, Slafkovsky is coming into his own as a player more than capable of driving the play—a development that began in Montreal and has continued now that he’s arrived in Milan.
HOCKEY M – Il est en feu! 🔥Juraj Slafkovský inscrit son 2e but du match et porte l'avance de la Slovaquie à 3-1. 🇸🇰💪🏒#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #hockey #jeuxolympiques pic.twitter.com/6J6AoLWu8h
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) February 11, 2026
