The victory of the St. Louis Blues‘ 2-1 win over the New York Islanders doesn’t immediately send them on a hot streak, but it comes as a long-awaited and much-welcomed boost after a string of painful losses.
The Blues not only ended their four-match winless streak (0-1-3), but perhaps also found an attacking formation that immediately settled down – the Slovak center Dalibor Dvorsky between Brayden Schenn and Pavlo Bučnevich.
The Blues started Saturday’s duel with the formation of Jake Neighbors – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud, but after eleven seconds when the game was stopped, the trio of Dvorský, Bučnevič and Schenn went to the ice to handle the bulls in the defensive zone.
“It’s (Dvorský’s) strong point (on throw-ins),” coach Jim Montgomery explained, according to The Athletic. “That’s the side he would win on. Thomas takes the faceoff from the other side. You just want to put the centers in a good position to have a chance to win the bullpen. When they’re on their strong side, the chances go up 5 percent.”
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Dvorský actually won the faceoff against Kyle Palmieri, which started the whole action: Philip Broberg sent the puck to Dvorsky in the mid zone, who flashed it to Bučnevich in the offensive blue, and Bučnevich found Schenn, who opened the scoring after 42 seconds of the game.
“I just got the puck to the bar and saw Bučnevich in the middle,” said Dvorský, who scored the first assist in his career. “So I was just trying to move it to him and the guys did a great job. And Schenn, I think that was a great shot and I’m glad it went in there.”
As Montgomery hoped, it all started with Dvorsky’s bullpen.
“I was just happy to be on the ice and I was trying to win the faceoff,” said the young man.
After being called up to the NHL, the 20-year-old native of Zvolen has a record of 55 successful throws out of 108, i.e. 50.9% success rate in 12 games.
“He’s winning bulls, a nice surprise for a young lad,” stated Bučnevich. “He’s very strong on face-offs, he’s responsible towards the back and he listens, he wants to learn. We try to help him on the ice with conversations. He can create a play, he can shoot. Good kid, he wants to learn, it’s a positive sign.”
“He’s just smart,” added Schenn. “He’s in the right spaces, he’s good in tackles, he has good details of the game and he’s easy to read. That makes everything easier. He’s going to be a very good player for many years.”
Before the match, coach Montgomery went so far as to compare Dvorský to the elite former Blues center Paul Šťastny.
“He kind of reminds me of Paul in the way he puts things together,” Montgomery said. “He has the puck on his stick, he immediately moves it forward and goes to the wing, which puts the puck in a good position.”
“Eh, that’s a great compliment,” responded Dvorský timidly. “Paul is a legend and, yes, I’m glad Monty said that. He was an amazing player, so it’s a great compliment.”
And exactly as Montgomery talked about it: Dvorský’s quick pass to Bučnevich hit the moment and the space exactly. When Schenn subsequently scored, it was as if a big stone fell from the hearts of experienced players – especially Bučnevic, who had previously been waiting for a point in the five-on-five game for 16 games.
“Yeah, it’s always nice to see a smile on that guy’s face,” Montgomery noted.
In addition, it was Dvorský’s first point in the NHL in a game off the power play.
“It feels good, but I could never have done it without my teammates,” said Dvorsky. “I’m very grateful to play with those two guys. Schenner and Buchy, they’re amazing players and I’m just trying to do my best and play my game with them. They’re easy to play with. They’re so strong on the puck, they make the play, they’re really fun to play with and I learn a lot from them.”
Read on SlovakFitness.sk:
Dvorský’s Impact: Key Stats and comparisons
To further illustrate Dalibor Dvorský’s promising start with the St.Louis Blues, here’s a concise table summarizing some key data points:
| Statistic | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Faceoff Win % | 50.9% | 55 wins out of 108 attempts in 12 games. |
| First NHL Assist | 1 | On the goal scored by Brayden Schenn. |
| Games Played | 12 | Since being called up to the NHL. |
| Point Contribution | 1 point | (1 Assist) contributed to a key goal. |
| Line Combination | dvorský-Schenn-Bučnevič | A new offensive formation that seems to have clicked. |
| Coach’s Comparison | Paul Šťastný | Praise for his playmaking abilities. |
Table 1: Dalibor dvorský – Key Performance Indicators
This table underscores not only Dvorský’s immediate impact on faceoffs but also his ability to contribute offensively, fitting seamlessly into the Blues’ lineup. His high faceoff percentage, notably for such a young player, is a strong indicator of his potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To provide readers with a comprehensive overview of Dvorský’s performance and address common inquiries, here’s an FAQ section:
Q: Who is Dalibor Dvorský?
A: Dalibor Dvorský is a young Slovakian center for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was called up to the NHL and has quickly demonstrated a proficiency in faceoffs and the ability to contribute to offensive plays.
Q: What has been Dvorský’s biggest contribution so far?
A: While his faceoff success is noteworthy, his most significant contribution to date is winning the crucial faceoff that led to Brayden Schenn’s opening goal in a victory against the New York Islanders. This demonstrates his ability to impact the game in several ways and has now led to a critical offensive contribution with an assist.
Q: How does Dvorský’s faceoff percentage compare to other centers?
A: While specific comparison data is not readily available within these search results, a 50.9% success rate is a respectable figure for a young center in the NHL, especially in his first several games. It suggests a high level of skill to start, with experience as a potential improvement. (Further data analysis would be required to provide a definitive comparison with the league average.) Further NHL statistics on TSN [[1]] could contain more information.
Q: Who does the coach compare dvorský to, and why?
A: St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery compared dvorský to former Blues elite center Paul Šťastný. Montgomery noted Dvorský’s ability to quickly move the puck forward and his playmaking instincts, much like Šťastný possessed.
Q: What is the meaning of the Blues’ new line combination with Dvorský?
A: The pairing of Dvorský with Brayden Schenn and Pavlo Bučnevich seems to have found immediate chemistry, offering a more productive offensive unit. This change has yielded the opening strategic advantage and first point for the player in a short space of time, suggesting that the team has found a valuable asset.
Q: Where can I find more in-depth NHL statistics?
A: Comprehensive NHL statistics, including player comparisons and league trends, can be found on sites such as TSN [[1]],QuantHockey [[2]] and Hockeydb.com [[3]]. QuantHockey specializes in facilitating player comparisons and advanced analysis. Hockeydb.com provides an extensive archive for ancient information.
Q: what can we expect from Dvorský in the future?
A: While it’s early in his career, Dvorský’s strong faceoff skills, playmaking abilities, and ability to grasp game details suggest a promising future. He appears to be developing into a reliable player, and with continued progress, he could become a key player for the Blues for many years to come.
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