Slovakia’s men’s national hockey team has featured consistent rosters through the years. The team has featured players such as Miroslav Satan, Peter Bondra, Zigmund Palffy, Marian Gaborik, Zdeno Chara, and Marian Hossa. After their first appearance at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, Slovakia’s best finish was third place at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Slovakia is ranked 9^th by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), but are they being overlooked at the Milano Cortina Olympics?

Slovakia Upsets Finland February 11^th

Slovakia’s first game came on Wednesday against Finland. The matchup showcased the IIHF’s 6^th–ranked Finland versus 9^th–ranked Slovakia. Finland entered the game as the favorite, but Slovakia set the tone, opening the first period with a goal. Finland would erase the deficit in the second period, only to see Slovakia score three times in the final period and cap off a 4-1 victory. Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky led Slovakia with two goals and one assist. Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect, made 38 saves on 39 shots to lead Slovakia to victory in the team’s opening game.

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

Slovakia Bests Italy February 13^th

Following the team’s victory over Finland, Slovakia faced off against Italy on Friday. Italy fell to Sweden 5-2 in their opening game but showed grit and determination trying to protect their home ice. Friday’s matchup didn’t see a goal until the second period, with Slovakia finding the net twice and Italy once. Slovakia and Italy both scored in the third period, and Slovakia came away with a 2-1 win. Forward Juraj Slafkovsky had an assist, bringing his 2026 Olympic point total to four. Slovakia started veteran Stanislav Skorvanek in net, and the goaltender made 20 saves on 22 shots. Slovakia’s third game, in Group B, is Saturday morning against Sweden.

Slovakia is Headed in the Right Direction

With two victories in two games, Slovakia leads Group B with six points. Sweden (IIHF Rank: 4^th) and Finland (IIHF Rank: 6^th) were the group’s favorites entering the Olympics. After two games, Slovakia is guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals. Through two games, the team’s success has three Slovakian players highly ranked among the stats leaders. Forward Juraj Slafkovsky is the tournament leader with six points, forward Dalibor Dvorsky is tied for 7^th, and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj is 3^rd in goals against average (1.00) and save percentage (.975).

Canada and the United States are the favorites to meet in the Gold Medal game, but Slovakia gained momentum after clinching a spot in the quarterfinals. Slovakia has played consistent hockey in each of the first two games and has a recipe for success. The team’s offense is playing at a high level and ranks 1^st in tournament goals and 4^th in shot percentage. Slovakia needs to carry the momentum heading into Saturday’s final Group B game and the tournament’s quarterfinals. The team can have continued success by sticking to the blueprint they’ve used through two games. Slovakia’s defense has made it difficult for their opponents to get shots, their goaltenders are being stingy, and the offense has the 4^th–best shot percentage at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. 

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Olympic hockey games on TV today: Schedule, times, channels, live streams to watch Friday Milan 2026 action originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A full day of hockey is on tap Friday in Milan, highlighted by the U.S. in action as the women move into the knockout round.

After breezing through group play, the Americans will face host Italy in the quarterfinals, where they will be heavy favorites to advance. Sweden, which also went unbeaten in the opening round, will face Czechia in the other women's game Friday.

On the men's side, Canada gets a back-to-back with a late game against Switzerland following its 5-0 demolition of Czechia on Thursday. Five different players found the net for Canada in its opener, while Connor McDavid tallied three assists and Sidney Crosby and Thomas Harley had two apiece. 

The most interesting men's game Friday should be Finland vs. Sweden, as the longtime rivals face off following shaky opening performances, most notably the Finns' ugly loss to Slovakia. The last time NHL players were in the Olympics, Sweden took home silver and Finland bronze, and the Finns won gold at the 2022 Games, so plenty of pride is on the line here. 

Here's the complete schedule for Friday, including when and where to watch every game.

Olympic hockey games on TV today

Friday, Feb. 13

Where to watch Winter Olympics men's hockey today

• TV channel: USA Network
• Live stream: Peacock

The Canada and USA men's games Thursday will air on USA Network. All games can be streamed live via Peacock. 

Peacock will carry every event of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics live. The NBC-owned streaming service's sports programming features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, and more.

Olympics hockey schedule 2026

Saturday, Feb. 14

Sunday, Feb. 15

Monday, Feb. 16

Tuesday Feb. 17

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Thursday, Feb. 19

Friday, Feb. 20

Saturday, Feb. 21

Sunday, Feb. 22

Related Links

• Latest Olympics news and updates
• 2026 Winter Olympics medal tracker
• 2026 Winter Olympics viewer's guide
• Day-by-day TV, streaming schedule for 2026 Winter Olympics

ROUSES POINT — Parker Russell and Merick Meacham scored goals 12 seconds apart in the third period Wednesday as Franklin Academy rallied for a 5-3 non-league victory over upset-minded Northeastern Clinton in boys’ hockey.

The Huskies (15-1-1), the top team in Section X Division II play so far this season, trailed the Cougars 3-2 going into the third. Russell and Meacham scored at the 5:46 and 5:48 marks, respectively, and Meacham added his third goal of the game in the final two minutes.

“We’re never happy with a loss, but tonight was one of those games you can’t be upset with,” NCCS coach Scott Lafountain said. “It was there for the taking, but we simply just ran out of gas.

“The boys tonight should be proud of their effort and hard work throughout the game, and the coaching staff was very pleased. FA skates four lines, and we competed all game with them. We had younger players step up, which is very good to see going into sectional play.”

The Cougars got goals from Cam Supernaw, Karsen Trim and Scott Wrye, while Camden Badger turned aside 29 of 34 shots.

Trim and Wrye scored in the final four minutes of the second period to give NCCS a 3-2 lead.

—

Franklin Academy 5, NCCS 3

FA 1 1 3 — 5

NCCS 1 2 0 — 3

First period- 1, NCCS, Supernaw (Breyette), 3:46. 2, FA, Henning (Bashaw), 9:18.

Second period- 3, FA. M. Meacham shg (Bashaw), 3:59. 4, NCCS, Trim (Seymour), 13:46. 5, NCCS, Wrye (Gadway), 16:15.

Third period- 6, FA, Russell (M. Meacham), 5:46. 7, FA, M. Meacham (Russell, Woodward), 5:58. 8, FA, M. Meacham (Russell), 14:58.

Shots on goal- FA, 34-19.

Saves- R. Meacham, FA, 16. Badger, NCCS 29.

It might be hard to believe, but winter sports section and state championships are going on.

For girls hockey, Tuesday offered plenty of section tournament games. Here’s a short recap of Tuesday’s action:

Class 2A, Section 2 semifinals

Holy Family 7, Prior Lake 1: Maddy Kimbrel and Katya Sander each scored twice to lead Holy Family to a win against Prior Lake at Bloomington Ice Garden. Audrey Nichols and Ella Nonweiler also scored for Holy Family, which will face Minnetonka in Friday’s section final at Bloomington Ice Garden at 7 p.m. Avery Olson scored for Prior Lake. Minnetonka beat Eden Prairie 3-0 on Tuesday.

Class 2A, Section 4 semifinals

Hill-Murray defeated Gentry Academy 3-0 in the early game at Aldrich Arena, with Woodbury coming back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Stillwater 3-2 in the later game. Hill-Murray will face Woodbury on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Aldrich Arena in the section final.

Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals

Centennial/Spring Lake Park beat Roseville Mahtomedi 6-2 in Tuesday’s early game at the Roseville Ice Arena. Maple Grove followed with a 4-1 win against Champlin Park/Coon Rapids. Cate Fischer scored twice in the first period for Maple Grove, which also got goals from Harper Wienecke and Abbie Benson. Callie Alphin scored for the River Cities team. The section final is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at Roseville Ice Arena.

Class A, Section 3 final

Luverne advanced to the Class A state tournament with a 3-2 win against Marshall.

Class A, Section 4 semifinals

Holy Angels scored twice in the first period and held on to beat Chisago Lakes 2-1 in Chisago City. Genevieve Nelson and Avery Kryzer scored for Holy Angels, while Lexi Smothers added a third-period goal for Chisago Lakes. The Stars will face Blake in the section final on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Blake Ice Arena after Blake beat Minneapolis 2-1.

Class A, Section 6 semifinals

St. Cloud routed Northern Lakes 6-0 at the St. Cloud MAC, with Reese Ruska and Reeghan Stevens each scoring twice for St. Cloud. Liz Bell and Josie Longnecker also scored for St. Cloud, which will face Fergus Falls in the section final on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Alexandria. Fergus Falls beat Sartell/Sauk Rapids 6-3 on Tuesday.

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Earlier this season, Seattle Torrent defender  Aneta Tejralova delivered a crushing hit to New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier.

Tejralova was ejected for the hit to the head, and handed supplemental discipline in the form of a two game suspension.

Monday, following a rough game between Tejralova’s Team Czechia and Fillier’s Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics, Tejralova took a moment to personally apologize to Fillier for the hit.

“I didn’t mean it…. Are you okay?” Tejralova was quoted as saying per NHL Network broadcaster Jackie Redmond. 

“Oh no, no it’s okay. No worries…I am (okay). Good luck the rest of the way,” Fillier replied.

After reviewing the footage with some improved audio - it appears, this was a personal apology from Tejralova for a hit she delivered on Fillier in the PWHL earlier this season that resulted in a 2 game suspension.

Tejralova: “I didn’t mean it…. Are you okay?”

Fillier: “Oh… pic.twitter.com/wllbaXzKGJ

— Jackie Redmond (@Jackie_Redmond) February 9, 2026

Fillier missed one game following the hit due to injury. 

The brief exchange between players was caught on camera by broadcast crews following Canada and Czechia’s preliminary round game in Milan, Italy.

Fillier scored for Canada in their 5-1 win over Czechia. The game itself was physical with Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin, and Czechia’s Sara Cajanova and Barbora Jurickova all leaving due to injury.