Slovakia stunned Finland 4-1 in the opening game of Olympic men's hockey, marking the biggest upset of the tournament so far. The Slovaks capitalized on Finnish mistakes, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period to secure the surprising victory. Sweden also opened with a 5-2 win over host Italy, overcoming an early deficit.

Thursday's schedule features eight teams in action, including the highly anticipated debuts of Team USA and Canada. The Americans face Latvia at 3:10 p.m. Eastern, while Canada takes on Czechia at 10:40 a.m. Switzerland meets France at 6:10 a.m. in Group A action. Both Team USA and Canada enter as gold medal favorites, with betting odds heavily favoring them to meet in the final.

Auston Matthews has been named captain of the U.S. team, adding leadership to a roster featuring several NHL stars. The Americans are seeking their first Olympic gold since 1980, while Canada aims to defend its 2022 title. With the NHL not participating, these Games feature a mix of NHL veterans, prospects, and European league players competing for Olympic glory.