MILAN – Slovakia’s improbable run through the Olympic men’s hockey tournament continued Wednesday, as they defeated Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinal round and secured a spot in the semifinals. The victory guarantees Slovakia will play for a medal, a feat few predicted before the Games began.
The Slovaks, led by a dominant offensive performance, showcased a depth of scoring that extended beyond their star player, Juraj Slafkovsky. Dalibor Dvorsky and Pavol Regenda each had multi-point games, with Regenda scoring twice and contributing an assist. Milos Kelemen and Tomas Tatar also found the back of the net for Slovakia.
“Amazing,” said alternate captain Erik Cernak, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “Before the tournament, if we would say we’re going to make semifinals, probably people would laugh at you. But we did it, and it’s not done yet.”
Slafkovsky, the reigning Olympic MVP and a rising star with the Montreal Canadiens, played a key role despite briefly leaving the game with an injury scare. He went head-first into the boards in the second period and required attention from the team trainer, receiving an ice pack to his neck. He quickly returned to the bench and was back on the ice, even celebrating a goal while receiving medical attention.
“I’m OK,” Slafkovsky said. “I was a little shaken up, but after a couple minutes I felt OK again. I went out there, and head wasn’t spinning. I was seeing normal.” He later assisted on captain Tatar’s empty-net goal.
The Slovaks’ success isn’t solely reliant on Slafkovsky’s individual brilliance, a point emphasized by both the player and his teammates. “We were saying, ‘It doesn’t matter who’s going to score,’” Slafkovsky explained. “We just need that one extra goal.”
Defenseman Martin Fehervary echoed that sentiment, stating, “I don’t think it does matter if Slafko has some points. He can do some other work for us, and we have plenty of players who can score, as well.”
Dvorsky, who plays for the St. Louis Blues, and Regenda, who splits time between the San Jose Sharks and their AHL affiliate, were instrumental in the offensive outburst. Dvorsky set up Kelemen’s goal and scored his third goal of the tournament with a skillful individual effort. Regenda’s three-point performance further solidified Slovakia’s offensive depth.
On the other end of the ice, Minnesota Wild prospect Samuel Hlavaj delivered a solid performance in goal, stopping 25 of 27 shots. Germany’s goals came from Lukas Reichel, assisted by Leon Draisaitl, and Frederik Tiffels on the power play.
This Olympic performance marks a significant step forward for Slovakian hockey. Four years ago, Slovakia secured a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, a historic first for the nation, but that came under unusual circumstances with the NHL absent due to pandemic-related scheduling issues. This year’s run to the semifinals is particularly impressive given the presence of top NHL talent from other nations.
“It’s probably 100 times better,” Slafkovsky said. “You’ve got the best players over here, and we managed to come here and go to semi-finals. It’s big for me, big for our country, big for every supporter we have.”
Coach Vladimir Orszagh’s team has exceeded expectations, transforming what was initially viewed as a developmental tournament into a legitimate medal contender. “be more proud of our players,” Orszagh said. “We are a band of brothers who work for the team, for each other, and living our dream. And we’re still living.”
Slovakia, seeded third, will face either the United States, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, or Czechia in the semifinals on , depending on the outcomes of the remaining quarterfinal matches. The U.S. Is scheduled to play Sweden, while Canada faces Czechia, and Finland takes on Switzerland.
“We just have to keep working, and whatever opening comes next, we’re going to be ready for whoever,” Regenda said. “We have to be as a team as we are. We have great guys, and we have to stick as a team.”
The U.S. Team, preparing for their quarterfinal against Sweden, emphasized the importance of a strong start and physical play. “They can move the puck really well,” U.S. Defenseman Noah Hanifin said of the Swedes. “I think for us it’s just about having a good start. They played last night. Just got to get on them early and kind of establish that physical game that makes us a good team. Play fast. It should be a lot of fun, though.”
