Juraj Slafkovsky keeps turning heads for Slovakia, matching Connor McDavid's scorching pace as the hottest hands in men's Olympic hockey right now. McDavid, fresh off dominating the NHL for Edmonton, links up with young guns like Macklin Celebrini to make Canada untouchable early on. Meanwhile, Tomas Hertl sits scoreless for Czechia, a stark reminder that even proven NHL vets face Olympic pressure in Milan.

Golden Knights' Jonas Schmid, Tomas Hertl, and Kevin Andersson charge toward Olympic quarterfinals, carrying Vegas pride into Milan's spotlight. These NHL vets blend skill and grit, turning national team hopes into personal redemption arcs. Back in Vegas, fans eye their form as a blueprint for the post-break surge.

Tomas Hertl peppers the net with five shots as Czechia unleashes pent-up fury on a French squad that briefly flips the script with a power-play surge off Hertl's kneeing penalty. The Golden Knights star anchors a lineup loaded with NHL firepower like Pastrnak and Necas, turning a mid-game scare into a statement win that echoes through Olympic prelims. Vegas fans see the grit that makes Hertl a playoff beast, and this performance sets the tone before Switzerland looms large.

Analysts break down today's Group A clash between France and Czechia as Olympic men's hockey heats up on day two. Czechia brings NHL firepower like Tomas Hertl while France fights to stay alive after Switzerland's shutout. Bettors eye the underdogs in a tournament where upsets like Slovakia over Finland already shake the bracket.