Slovakia secured a 3-2 victory over host nation Italy in a preliminary-round game at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan. The win improves Slovakia's record to 2-0 in Group B, with goals from Libor Hudacek, Matus Sukel and Adam Ruzicka. Italy responded with power-play tallies but could not overcome the deficit.
The match took place on February 13, 2026, at the Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, part of the men's hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Slovakia, coming off a 4-1 upset win over Finland earlier in the week, took control in the second period. Libor Hudacek opened the scoring at 3:51 with a power-play goal, his centering pass deflecting off Italy defenseman Alex Trivellato's skate into the net, assisted by Juraj Slafkovsky and Dalibor Dvorsky. Matus Sukel extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:45, converting a rebound from Adam Liska's backhand shot, with assists from Liska and Lukas Cingel.
Italy fought back late in the second period, as Matthew Bradley tipped in a loose puck at 17:06 on a power play after Phil Pietroniro's shot hit the crossbar, assisted by Pietroniro and Dustin Gazley. In the third period, Adam Ruzicka restored Slovakia's two-goal advantage at 11:54 with a slot shot off a backhand pass from Pavol Regenda, assisted by Regenda and Martin Gernat. Gazley narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 16:25 with an extra-attacker goal, the puck deflecting off teammate Giovanni Morini's skate from Thomas Larkin's one-timer, assisted by Larkin and Pietroniro; the goal was upheld after video review.
Slovakia goalie Stanislav Skorvanek made 20 saves, while Italy's Davide Fadani allowed two goals on 30 shots before being pulled at 9:50 of the third; Damian Clara stopped seven of eight shots in relief. Slovakia outshot Italy 38-22. Defenseman Erik Cernak led all players with 24:27 in time on ice for Slovakia, while Slafkovsky added an assist to reach four points (two goals, two assists) in two games.
"I think the defense played pretty well today," Slovakia defenseman Martin Fehervary said. "Other than the first period, I think we didn't give up much." Italy's Bradley noted, "We're just coming out every night and giving our best." Slovakia defenseman Cernak added, "The defending, it's a big part of our game... We just have to be better against Sweden."
Slovakia can clinch first in Group B with at least one point in their next game against Sweden on February 14. The top three teams per group and the best second-place finisher advance directly to the quarterfinals.
