Juraj Slafkovsky scores twice as Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 to open the Milan Cortina Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky had Slovakia's only two goals four years ago in the first men's hockey game at the Beijing Olympics, a convincing loss to Finland.

Slafkovsky again scored twice in the tournament opener. Only this time, Slovakia upset Finland 4-1 Wednesday to get the first Olympics with NHL players in more than a decade off to a stunning start.

“This is way better — a way better feeling to win," Slafkovsky said.

With Slafkovsky, the MVP in 2022, picking up where he left off at the Olympics and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced, Slovakia served noticed by knocking off a medal favorite that it should not be taken lightly despite having only seven NHL players, while all but one on Finland’s roster plays in the league.

“We are kind of that team no one’s really expecting us to win much of the games," alternate captain Martin Fehervary said. “We haven’t won against Finland for a long, long time. I felt like this is the day. I felt like this is the time, and we did it.”

Slafkovsky, who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, scored the first goal of this tournament less than eight minutes in, skating through Finland's defense and sliding the puck past a helpless Juuse Saros. After Dalibor Dvorsky scored with 13 minutes left to put Slovakia ahead, Slafkovsky wired a shot past Saros on the power play and pumped his fist to the crowd.

“I guess the Olympics are fitting to him," defenseman Erik Cernak said. “He’s playing well at the Olympics. I’m really happy for him. He’s playing well in Montreal. Now, he brought the same play, same everything.”

Hlavaj had a lot to do with the initial underdog story on the ice, fending off one onslaught after another as Slovakia was outshot 18-5 in the first period and 40-25 overall. Fehervary called Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect playing in the American Hockey League in Iowa, Slovakia's best player.

“To be honest, I’ve never seen him play before," Cernak said. "But he was outstanding. He kept us in it in important moments.”

Unable to watch while the U.S. team he runs was practicing next door, Wild general manager Bill Guerin said “it's great” that Hlavaj got off to such a strong start at the Olympics.

It was not so good for Saros, the Nashville Predators starter who allowed three goals on 24 shots in defeat.

Finland next plays archrival Sweden on Friday, and it's possible Vancouver's Kevin Lankinen gets the nod, just as he did in replacing Saros in net at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago.

“It’s too early to say,” Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. “I like how Juuse played, and it wasn’t an easy game for him because not that many shots.”

Eeli Tolvanen, also a returning Olympian after playing in 2018, scored Finland's only goal. Adam Ruzicka scored into an empty net to seal it for Slovakia and deal Finland an unexpected early defeat.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the start we wanted,” captain Mikael Granlund said. "We all know the most important games are ahead of us. No panic.’’

Sweden defenseman Victor Hedman was not surprised Finland lost to Slovakia because “this is the Olympic Games. We’ve seen a lot of upsets.”

He and his heavily favored teammates had some dicey times when it looked as if they'd be on the wrong end of an all-time shocker against host Italy before taking the lead midway through and pulling away to win 5-2.

“There are no easy games in tournaments like this, and the gap isn’t what it used to be years ago,” said captain Gabriel Landeskog, who scored the tying goal after Sweden fell behind when Italy's Luca Frigo scored four minutes in. “A little bit of rust, some things to clean up, but that’s to be expected. I thought it was a hard-fought game, no doubt.”

When Gustav Forsling scored to give Sweden the lead before the end of the first period, it looked as if it was the goal that would end the long shot bid.

Instead, Italy players went into intermission knowing they could play with one of the best teams in the world and showed it early in the second when Canadian import Matt Bradley tied it again.

Sweden went ahead for good when William Nylander scored late in the second, and Italy goalie Damian Clara left midway through the third after his right leg cramped up making one of his 46 saves on 49 shots. That cut short an incredible performance by the Anaheim Ducks prospect drafted in the second round in 2023.

“He played unbelievable," Italy's Dustin Gazley said. "If it wasn’t for him, the score could have been way higher than it was. That was his job, and that’s what he did for us and it was huge to have him back there stopping pucks.”

Mika Zibanejad scored on backup Davide Fadani, who relieved Clara, and Hedman's empty-net goal sealed it. The all-NHL Swedes had 60 shots to Italy’s 22.

“You put up 60 shots, usually you win those games — and we did,” Hedman said. “We knew Clara was a big, big talent. Anaheim is lucky to have a prospect like that. He played unbelievable and kept them in the game. We could’ve been a little bit more direct, but it felt like a typical opening game and nerves, even though it doesn’t matter who you play.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Sweden's Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates a goal scored past Italy's goalkeeper Damian Clara, center, during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Italy and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Italy's goalkeeper Damian Clara (20) makes a save against Sweden's William Nylander (88) during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Italy and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky (20) scores her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Slovakia and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky (20) scores a goal against Finland's goalkeeper Juuse Saros (74) in the first period during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Mike Segar/Pool Photo via AP)

Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Slovakia and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his team Wednesday after the NBA handed out four suspensions from a fight in the Pistons' game against the Charlotte Hornets.

“The narrative that’s out there that we react to everything, every time, is a disappointing one, to be honest with you," Bickerstaff said before the Pistons' game in Toronto.

Detroit center Isaiah Stewart was suspended seven games by the league, while three other players were also penalized for their roles in Monday's fight.

Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté were each suspended four games for fighting and escalating the altercation, while Pistons center Jalen Duren got two games for initiating the altercation and fighting, the league announced.

But the heaviest penalty went to Stewart, with the league saying it was based in part on his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” The league said he left the bench area, aggressively entered an on-court altercation, and fought.

Stewart has been suspended five times, including once for an altercation with LeBron James in 2021. He was suspended twice last season, including last April in an altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves that spilled over into the stands.

“You’re hearing all this stuff about what our guys are and it’s completely inaccurate,” Bickerstaff said. “If they reacted to everything that happened to them, we would never have a basketball game. To highlight the rare moments and make that the story is disrespectful to our guys as basketball players.”

As for whether he thought the punishment was fair, Bickerstaff said, “I would have liked to see Stew’s number being less, obviously. But as a group, we kind of accepted it, what it is.”

The suspensions began Wednesday night for all four players.

Hornets coach Charles Lee, who was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter for arguing a call, said he understands the decision handed down by James Jones, the NBA's executive vice president/head of basketball operations.

“We made a choice in that moment and our actions put us in a situation where we have to take the medicine as the league hands out — and do better next time," Lee said.

Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were all ejected from the Pistons’ 110-104 win following a melee in the third quarter.

Duren was driving toward the basket when he was fouled by Diabate. Duren turned around to get face-to-face with Diabate and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then shoved Diabate in the face with his open hand and things escalated from there.

While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away and Bridges got involved by charging at him, throwing a left-handed punch. Duren retaliated with a punch. Diabate attempted to charge again at Duren and had to be held back.

Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch, and the players tussled. At one point, Stewart rushed to throw a punch at Bridges and missed, but Stewart appeared to get Bridges in a headlock and delivered multiple left-handed blows toward his head.

Duren spoke after the game, calling it an “overly competitive game,” adding that “emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.”

Following practice on Tuesday, Diabate apologized to the Hornets organization and to the fans for his role in the altercation and vowed not to let it happen again.

“When he put his hand in my face, that’s when I think I lost control of it,” Diabate said.

The Pistons are in first place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is fighting for a playoff spot and had won nine straight games — one shy of tying a franchise record — before the loss.

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate is held back as he fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, front right, is held back as he fights Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) on the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, right, holds back Hornets head coach Charles Lee, left, who yells at an official during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. Lee was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, front right, is held back as he fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) fight during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)