It was good Wednesday. Slafkovsky was a genius and a key cog in Slovakia’s (1-0-0-0) ability to defeat Finland for the first time in four Olympic games.
Eeli Tolvanen scored for Finland (0-0-1-0), and Juuse Saros made 21 saves.
Slafkovsky, a Montreal Canadiens forward, scored the first goal of the game, converting a turnover by the Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen in a brilliant solo effort, bypassing Saros and putting the puck into the unguarded net at 7:45 of the first period.
After Dalibor Dvorski made it 2-1 early in the third period, Slafkovsky gave the Slovaks some breathing space with his power play goal at 10:30. He assisted on the goal into an empty net by Adam Ružicka at 5:39 p.m. it was 4-1.
“I don’t think so (I would score twice), but I’m happy that it’s like this and I can help my country and help my friends who are trying to win the match,” Slafkovsky said.
The two-goal performance came after Slafkovsky scored seven goals in seven games at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, when Slovakia won the bronze medal.
He was named tournament MVP and was subsequently selected with the Canadiens’ first pick in the 2022 NHL Draft four months later.
Slafkovsky has nine goals in eight Olympic games. Slovakia will face Team Italy at Rho Arena on Friday (6:10 a.m. ET; Peacock, ICI Télé, CBC Gem, SN).
“I wish I could score two goals in every game, but sometimes it doesn’t happen,” he said. “I was in the right place, at the right time, and I shot the puck.
“It’s a great feeling. It gives a huge confidence boost, but we have to rest and start again on Friday. But it sure feels good.”
