Olympics men’s hockey, Slovakia vs. Slovenia results and highlights

Slovenia earns its second victory in the Olympics men’s hockey tournament with a shootout victory over Slovakia.

It came down to the last shooter in the shootout, but Slovenia skated away with the 3-2 victory over Slovakia in the final game of group play for both teams.

With the shootout tied at 1-1, Slovenia’s Ziga Jeglic skated in and fired a wrist shot past Branislav Konrad, giving Slovenia their second victory past regulation in the tournament. Rok Ticar opened the shootout scoring for Slovenia with a quick deke before sliding the puck five-hole on Konrad. Ladislav Nagy, the fourth shooter, tied it for Slovakia.

Slovenia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in regulation on power play goals just three minutes apart in the second period. The first came on a six-on-four following a delayed penalty. That’s when Blaz Gregorc fired a shot from the point past Konrad and into the net. Anke Kuralt scored the second, deflecting a Jan Mursak pass from the high slot to the top corner. Mursak also picked up an assist on Gregorc’s goal.

Milos Bubela cut the lead to one with just over four minutes left in the second with a power play goal of his own, deflecting a shot from Peter Ceresnak.

Slovakia found the equalizer six minutes into the third period off a wrist shot by Marcel Hascak. Hascek put some steam on a shot from the point, which found its way through bodies and past goalkeeper Gasper Kroselj.

Slovenia outshot Slovakia 30-25 in the game. With the victory, Slovenia finishes second in Group B.

Highlights

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What’s Next?

Both teams will wait and see how the rest of group play shakes out before knowing their next opponent. Slovenia finished second in the group, but won’t receive a bye as the top second place finisher in group play. Slovakia ended up fourth in the group.