Slovakia unanimously names Blues' Dalibor Dvorsky as Olympics X-Factor

The 20-year-old forward has been surpassing expectations at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Team Slovakia are two wins away from securing the gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. While Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens has been leading the way, the whole team has acknowledged that they would not be in the position to go up against Team USA at the semifinals if it wasn't for the standout performance of Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues.

Why it matters

Dvorsky, a 20-year-old forward, has been the second-best scorer for Slovakia at the Olympics, trailing only Slafkovsky. His breakout performance has surprised many NHL fans who did not expect him to excel at this level, but his teammates in Slovakia knew he had the potential.

The details

Dvorsky has scored three goals and dished out three assists so far in the Olympics. His teammates have praised his consistent play, noting that he doesn't get too high or too low and just focuses on doing his job well. Dvorsky is also starting to find his groove in the NHL, scoring nine goals and notching six assists in 47 games for the Blues this season.

  • As of the moment, Dvorsky is currently the second-best scorer for Slovakia at the Olympics.
  • Prior to their semifinal clash against Team USA, Dvorsky has scored three goals while also dishing out three assists.

The players

Dalibor Dvorsky

A 20-year-old forward for the St. Louis Blues who has been a standout performer for Team Slovakia at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Juraj Slafkovsky

A forward for the Montreal Canadiens who has been leading the way for Team Slovakia at the Olympics, with seven points so far.

Martin Pospisil

A forward for the Calgary Flames who has praised Dvorsky's consistent play and ability to avoid getting too high or too low.

Colton Parayko

A defenseman for the St. Louis Blues and Team Canada who has expressed happiness at seeing Dvorsky's success at the Olympics.

Erik Cernak

A defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Team Slovakia who has said that Dvorsky's game is great and that he will only get better with more playing time in the NHL.

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What they’re saying

“I just keep telling him, 'Keep shooting and good things will happen.' He is something special and I am happy that he is showing it.”

— Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames forward (NHL.com)

“He's a guy who prepares the right way. He's always ready to play. I'm just happy to see him doing extremely well. Great for him, happy for him, and looking forward to more success for him.”

— Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues defenseman and Team Canada player (NHL.com)

“Overall, his game is great. He's playing in St. Louis and eventually he's going to get more minutes and be an even better player.”

— Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman and Team Slovakia player (NHL.com)

What’s next

Team Slovakia will face off against Team USA in the semifinals, with Dvorsky and his teammates looking to prevent the Americans from replicating the Miracle on Ice.

The takeaway

Dalibor Dvorsky's breakout performance at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has surprised many, but his teammates in Slovakia knew he had the potential. His consistent play and ability to avoid getting too high or too low have been key factors in Slovakia's success, and he is starting to find his groove in the NHL as well.