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The New York Islanders have been searching for consistency early in the season, alternating wins and losses while dealing with key injuries. Star forward Mathew Barzal has yet to make his debut, and defenseman Alexander Romanov is out for the year with a torn ACL. Despite these setbacks, captain Bo Horvat has stepped up in a big way.
Horvat, the 16th captain in franchise history, entered the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on a three-game point streak, having assisted in the opener against Toronto and scored against New Jersey and the Rangers. He kept that streak alive in a 4-1 victory over Chicago, scoring a power-play goal with 59 seconds left in the first period, assisted by Matthew Schaefer. He then added an empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining, marking his 41st career multi-goal game and giving him four goals in five games this season.
Head coach Peter DeBoer has consistently praised Horvat's offensive impact, and the captain has delivered. However, there is concern after Horvat was forced to leave the game following his empty-net goal. He took a nasty hit from Frank Nazar, who was ejected for shouldering Horvat in the head. Horvat went to the locker room and did not return, even skipping his first-star lap.
Key Analysis
Horvat's importance to the Islanders cannot be overstated. He leads all forwards in ice time, averaging 19:37 per game, and logged 17:53 against Chicago. If he misses time, it would be a significant blow to a team already missing Barzal and Romanov. The Islanders will need others to step up if Horvat is sidelined, but his absence would be a major test of their depth and resilience.