Milan, Italy—As the sun peeks through the clouds, the stage is set for the Men’s Ice Hockey portion of the Milano Cortina Winter Games 2026, where Team Finland takes on Slovakia at the Milano Santaguilia IHO Arena.
In this highly anticipated matchup, former Colorado Avalanche teammates Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen will be sharing the ice once more, evoking mixed emotions among Avalanche fans who are still mourning their team’s loss to Rantanen last postseason. However, according to the official lineup, Rantanen and Lehkonen will not skate on the same line, likely keeping Rantanen paired with teammates from the Dallas Stars, such as Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund, which promotes a sense of familiarity.
Interestingly, the two are also expected to be on separate power-play units, with Rantanen leading the first unit while Lehkonen features on the second alongside Teuvo Teravainen, Vili Lehtonen, and Eeli Tolvanen. This setup is anticipated to be flexible, especially as the tournament progresses and teams explore various partial line changes.
Earlier predictions noted that Lehkonen might become the first men’s goal scorer at the Milano Cortina Olympics, making the upcoming game even more exciting.
Finland boasts an impressive 18-1-3 all-time record against Slovakia, positioning them as the clear favorites. However, this Group B has been dubbed the “group of death” and also includes powerhouse Team Sweden, led by Gabe Landeskog.
The betting market reflects this confidence, with Team Finland carrying a 75.7% implied win probability, while Slovakia is at 24.3%. The implied goals suggest Finland could score approximately 3.70 goals compared to Slovakia’s 1.98, reflecting an expected offensive dominance.
A victory for Team Finland is crucial, as only the three group winners and the highest-ranked second-place team will advance directly to the quarterfinals. With a 3-2-1 point system in place, every contest will be significant for those aiming to minimize playoff fatigue and maximize their chances for medal contention.
As the competition heats up, fans are eager to see how this game unfolds, particularly with the potential for remarkable individual performances and team dynamics.