MILAN, Italy -- Underdog Italy made podium-contending Sweden work for its 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%.

Juraj Slafkovsky became a teen sensation four years ago when Slovakia took bronze in the men's Olympic ice hockey and the now 21-year-old showed he means business at Milano Cortina, scoring two goals as his side beat defending champions Finland in the tournament opener on Wednesday.

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