Underdogs Italy made podium contenders Sweden work for their 5-2 win in the men's ice hockey group stage on Wednesday and Slovakia stunned defending champions Finland 4-1, as the Olympic tournament delivered thrills on its opening day.

In the first Olympics featuring NHL players in a dozen years, the first star of the tournament comes from the AHL. That's the goalie from Iowa playing for Slovakia, Samuel Hlavaj. And no, he hasn't even been good in the AHL this year. Hlavaj ranks 44th in save percentage in AHL action this season, at 88.4%.

While on a vastly different scale, Slafkovský is like the Sidney Crosby of Slovakia, and this could be his breakout moment.