Islanders get good news on Bo Horvat: He's cleared to play against Tampa Bay
Islanders center Bo Horvat reacts after a hit by Chicago left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (not pictured) while scoring an empty-net goal during the third period at UBS Arena in Elmont on Thursday. Credit: Brad Penner
Bo Horvat and Pete DeBoer each recognized the uncertainty that comes following a hit to the head.
In this case, that uneasiness involved Horvat, who took an illegal check to the head from Chicago’s Frank Nazar late in the Islanders’ 4-1 home win Thursday night and entered concussion protocol.
Nazar was dealt a two-game suspension Friday. Horvat, fortunately for himself and the Islanders, was dealt a clean bill of health.
The newly-minted Islanders captain is available for Saturday night’s game against the Lightning at UBS Arena. Horvat, who participated in Saturday’s morning skate, has a team-high four goals and an assist through the Islanders’ first four games.
“Obviously, on hits like those, you never know, right?” he said Saturday morning. “Anytime the principal point of contact is the head, it's always scary. But, yeah, I feel fine. The right side of my face hurts a little bit. But other than that, I feel pretty good.”
Said DeBoer: “I think any time you get a headshot like that, we've all seen how those can potentially turn out and how much time players can miss and how serious those can be. So the fact that he's available to us tonight I think is a big relief to everybody here.”
Horvat had two goals Thursday, the second of which was an empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining. The hit happened as he was following through on the empty-netter, and Horvat said he “definitely didn't see” Nazar coming.
Regardless, there were no hard feelings.
“He's not the type of player to go looking for that,” Horvat said. “It was just an unfortunate chain of events there . . . I don't think he was looking to target my head completely. It just ended up working out that way. It's an unfortunate play, but luckily I'm fine and I'm ready to go tonight.”
Nazar told reporters Saturday morning that he checked in with Horvat via text message and offered his point of view of the play.
“I just see the Islanders player going to make an attempt for the empty net,” he said. “I'm kind of on the other side of him, so the best thing I can do is try to apply pressure so then he doesn't score. I kept my shoulders in, kept my elbow in, didn't lunge or reach or anything. Just skated right through.”
The Islanders quickly stood up for Horvat on Thursday, with Logan Stanley, Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau jumping into a scrum with Nazar and other Chicago players.
“I think that's kind of the brotherhood we have in here, and the type of guys we have in here,” Horvat said. “I appreciate that from our group coming in for me there. But it felt even better to get the win.”
After Thursday’s game, Emil Heineman said: “They go after one of our guys. Whatever it is, we have to stick up for one of ours, and I think we did that. It’s a cheap shot. I don’t like to see that. I like the way we responded.”
Palmieri told reporters Friday that he “definitely” thought Nazar’s hit was “over the line” and said Horvat was in a “vulnerable position.”
“Obviously, he’s a huge part of our team, and the hit is what it is,” he added. “We reacted as a team and stuck up for each other.”
Horvat, in the fourth season of an eight-year, $68 million contract, had 31 goals last season and is off to a strong scoring start this year. He is responsible for all three of the Islanders’ power-play goals.
“I feel great,” he said. “The guys are making it easy for me, and obviously, capitalizing on the power play and stuff like that’ is great. Just trying to do other things well as well, not just scoring the goals, and I think it's been leading to my chances, for sure.”
Horvat was named the Islanders’ 16th captain on Sept. 14. Through a handful of games, it’s clear to his teammates that he was the right choice.
“He’s wearing the ‘C’ for a reason,” Palmieri said. “He’s a leader, on and off the ice, for us. So he’s just going to continue to do his thing and lead the way and be the guy who leads our group.”
Anthony Duclair told reporters Friday: “We follow him. He’s the engine of this team. The way he plays, obviously, motivates all of us. He leads the way in our practice, games, all that . . . We’re all super happy that he’s our captain and leading the way.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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