#NHLPeachy #ItalyPeachy @NHL NHL Morning Skate from Milan – Feb. 11, 2026
* Juraj Slafkovský, the reigning Olympic MVP, posted 2-1—3 and led Team Slovakia to victory in the opening contest of the men’s tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
* Rasmus Dahlin tied the most assists by a Swedish player in an Olympic game involving NHL players while Team Sweden set a record for shots as they earned a win in their opening contest.
* The second day of Olympic men’s hockey will feature both Team Canada and Team USA contesting their first games of the tournament, with Canada taking on Team Czechia and USA facing off against Team Latvia.
REIGNING OLYMPIC MVP SLAFKOVSKÝ LIFTS SLOVAKIA TO VICTORY
Juraj Slafkovský (2-1—3) followed up right where he left off at the 2022 Olympics – where he was named tournament MVP – when he opened the scoring at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The Canadiens forward later tallied two more points in the third period to seal Team Slovakia’s first victory at an Olympics with NHL players since its quarterfinal triumph over Team Sweden at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
* Slafkovský became the third different player representing an NHL team to score a multi-goal game with Team Slovakia, joining Marian Hossa (3 on Feb. 14, 2002; OTT, 2 on Feb. 18, 2014; CHI & 2 on Feb. 16, 2006; ATL) and Marian Gaborik (2 on Feb. 15, 2006; MIN). He also became just the second Canadiens player to achieve the feat following Martin Rucinsky (2 on Feb. 15, 1998 w/ CZE).
* ICYMI: Earlier this month, Slafkovský was featured in the NHL’s YouTube series, "My World," highlighting some of the game's brightest international stars. Click here to watch his episode.
* Blues rookie Dalibor Dvorsky (20 years, 241 days) scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and became the second-youngest player representing an NHL team at the Olympics to score a game winner, behind only Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (20 years, 158 days on Feb. 22, 2006 w/ RUS). Dvorsky’s goal also made him the youngest Slovak player to find the back of the net at an Olympic Winter Games with NHL players.
SWEDEN SETS SHOTS ON GOAL RECORD IN FIRST WIN OF OLYMPICS
Sabres’ defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (0-3—3) led the game with a three-point outing to help Team Sweden earn a win in their opening contest of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Sweden registered 60 shots on goal, the most ever by a team in an Olympic Winter Games contested with NHL players.
* Dahlin tied Daniel Alfredsson (0-3—3 on Feb. 22, 2006) for the most assists by a Swedish player in an Olympic game involving NHL players. Dahlin is appearing in his second Olympics – his first came as a 17-year-old at the 2018 Olympics, posting one assist in two games as Team Sweden’s youngest player.
* Erik Karlsson (PIT) factored on Team Sweden’s first goal of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games after being responsible for his country’s last goal at an Olympics involving NHL players. In 2014, Karlsson became the first defenseman to finish as the tournament points leader in Olympics with NHL players (tied or outright) after tallying 4-4—8 (6 GP), which matched Phil Kessel (USA).
CLARA, HLAVAJ SHINE IN OPENING GAME IN MILAN
Two NHL prospects in net made stand-out performances for their country: Team Italy’s Damian Clara and Team Slovakia’s Samuel Hlavaj. Clara was selected by the Ducks in the second round (60th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft and Hlavaj is part of the Wild organization – he's played predominantly for the AHL’s Iowa Wild this season.
* Clara stopped 46 of the 49 shots he faced before leaving partway through the third period with an injury, including 27 in the opening frame, which tied the second-highest shots on goal in a period in an Olympics involving NHL players (also FIN vs. ITA on Feb. 16, 2006).
* Hlavaj made 39 saves in Slovakia’s victory, which established the most saves by a Team Slovakia goaltender in an Olympics featuring NHL players, besting the previous mark set by Jan Laco (37 saves on Feb. 16, 2014).
OLYMPICS STATS LINKS
* 2026 Statistics: Skaters / Goaltenders
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CANADA, USA SET TO TAKE ICE FOR FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY
The second day of Olympic men’s hockey will feature both Team Canada and Team USA contesting their first games of the tournament. Team Canada begins its pursuit of its fourth gold medal in Olympics involving NHL players with a match against Team Czechia, while Team USA starts its quest for its first gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics with a match against Team Latvia.
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini – three of the NHL’s top four players in the Art Ross Trophy race this season – will take the ice for Team Canada at the Olympics for the very first time. McDavid and MacKinnon both represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with the former netting the winning goal in the championship game and the latter earning tournament MVP. Celebrini is among four players seeking their first medal or championship with Team Canada at a major international event (incl. OLY, WC, WJC, WCH/4N). At just 19 years old, Celebrini is set to become the youngest player to play for Team Canada at Olympics with NHL players.
* Despite a number of new faces donning the maple leaf at the Olympics, Canada enters Thursday with a pair of decorated veterans in captain Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty, who were both a part of the country’s past two Olympic gold medal wins (2010 & 2014). Crosby netted the “Golden Goal” in the gold medal contest of the Vancouver Games – one of five clinchers at Olympics with NHL players. Doughty, meanwhile, has two game-winning goals in Olympics involving NHL players, which is tied for the most by defensemen (also Nicklas Lidstrom) and fifth most overall. At the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Doughty tied fellow defenseman Shea Weber for the team lead in points en route to the gold medal.
* Team USA will ice 21 of 23 players from its 4 Nations Face-Off roster, including Zach Werenski, who ranks second in goals (20) among NHL defensemen ahead of the Olympic break and second in points (62). Werenski led all skaters at the 4 Nations Face-Off in assists and points (0-6—6) and became the first defenseman in NHL International Tournament history (incl. OLY, WC, WJC, WCH/4N) to lead all players outright in points.
* Brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk join forces again after putting up memorable performances at 4 Nations Face-Off, both netting two goals against Finland as well as sparking a thrilling round-robin victory over Team Canada. Matthew has a history of scoring in big moments – he led the Panthers (tied) in playoff points en route to their first Stanley Cup in 2024 and scored the championship-clinching goal in 2025 – and will look to add to his resume in Milan.
* The Tkachuks aren’t the only brothers on Team USA – Jack and Quinn Hughes are also set to take the ice on Thursday after Quinn missed out on participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury. It will be the first time since 1964 that Team USA has two sets of brothers on its Olympic squad (Dave & Herb Brooks; Bill & Roger Christian), and third time overall (also 1960: the Christians, as well as Bill & Bob Cleary). The last time any men’s team iced two sets of brothers on its Olympic roster was 2018 (Norway).
