They had to work the full sixty minutes for it, but Slovakia took their second win in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games by beating the hosts, Italy, 3-2. 
 
Adam Ruzicka scored the game-winner and Stanislav Skorvanek made 19 saves for Slovakia. Dustin Gazley scored one and added an assist for Italy. Davide Fadani made 29 saves and Damian Clara who came in relief in the third period, made seven saves.
 
"It wasn't an easy game. I felt like most of the time, we controlled the game. But they had a first-period breakaway, a couple of 2-on-1's, and it's a hard game for the goalie to be in that position," Slovakia's Martin Fehervary said. 
 
"We made a couple of mistakes on the back end, which we will have to eliminate going further into the tournament. We maybe let them do more than we should have," Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky added. 
 
Slovakia was riding high after their impressive win over Finland on the first day of the tournament. Italy, on the other hand, while losing to Sweden, still gained a lot of confidence from their valiant effort against the team in yellow. 
 
"We're just coming out every night and giving our best. There weren't many expectations coming in this for us so we're just competing. We've got a good group in here and we're going to keep building and building and see where it takes us," Italy forward Matt Bradley said.
 
Today’s game was only the third time Italy and Slovakia had faced each other in the Olympics. In Lillehammer in 1994, the Slovaks romped Italy 10-4 and four years later, they took care of business by beating the Azzuri 4-3. 
 
It was Italy’s home ice – but the crowd in the sold-out Rho arena was all Slovakia’s. 
 
The first period was a battle from beginning to end. The teams exchanged scoring chances, but both goalies stood tall. 
 
For Slovakia, especially the first line with captain Tomas Tatar, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Simon Nemec created havoc in the Italian zone, but they couldn’t get the puck to the back of the net. 
 
Italy may have had the more dangerous chances – including Mikael Frycklund’s breakaway – but they couldn’t solve Skorvanek in Slovakia’s goal. 
 
In the first intermission, both head coaches surely stressed the importance of staying patient. 
 
Tommy Purdeller received a tripping minor at 3:07 and Slovakia’s first power play unit got to work. They also, with a bit of luck, scored the first goal of the game. Slafkovsky played the puck down low to Hudacek, who was looking to pass to Tatar, but his saucer hit an Italian defender on the way instead and was deflected into the net for 1-0 at 3:51.
 
After the goal, Slovakia took over the game and halfway through the game, Slovakia outshot Italy 18-8. Italy’s first shot on goal came when just 6:55 remained of the period. 
 
Moments later, Adam Liska carried the puck into the Italian zone and sent it to the front of the net. Fadani made a save but Matus Sukel was first to the rebound and he slammed it in, to double Slovakia’s lead at 13:45. 
 
The second Italian shot of the period was a bomb from the left circle and it surprised Skorvanek but the Phil Pietroniro one-time hit the crossbar and Matt Bradley was in front of then to make it 2-1 from the doorstep into a wide-open net with 2:54 remaining in the second period. 
 
“I didn't know if it went in or not. It just flew off the post, and I somehow batted it down and kept it there. I just wanted to make sure,” said Bradley. 
 
Italy was on the board, and back in the game.  
 
And they were in it to win it. Italy outshot Slovakia 6-4 in the first seven minutes of the period and forced Skorvanek to make several spectacular saves. 
 
Italy was forced to make a goalie change with 10:10 remaining in the game and Damian Clara came in relief between the pipe – during Slovakia’s powerplay. 
 
The Slovaks peppered Clara with shots, and he made a half a dozen great saves but finally had to surrender when Adam Ruzicka fired a loose puck into the net to make it 3-1, at 11:54 into the period. 
 
Italy pulled Clara early – with five and a half minutes remaining – and created a lot of pressure in the Slovakia zone. It proved to be a successful move. With 3:35 remaining, Italy pulled within one when Gazley’s shot found its way to the back of the net. 
 
“We wanted to tie it up and push it to overtime,” Bradley said. 
 
That was as close as Italy got. Slovakia is still undefeated in the tournament. 
 
"Today we were giving them some chances, some odd-man rushes. And I think we just have to be better against Sweden tomorrow," Slovakia's Erik Cernak said. 
 
Italy's next game against Finland will carry some special weight thanks to their Finnish head coach Jukka Jalonen.
 
"And not just for Jukka, as it's his home team, but obviously for us too. We want to prove to people that we belong, and I think we've been doing that. We've got to get one. Gotta keep going!"  Italy's captain Phil Pietroniro concluded.