Bo Horvat Returns to Islanders Practice After Lower-Body Injury
EAST MEADOW, NY - There was a welcome sight at Islanders practice Friday: Bo Horvat back on the ice.
The 30-year-old forward, who leads the team with 21 goals this season, rejoined the group after missing 11 straight games with a lower-body injury suffered in a lopsided 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on New Year’s Day. It’s a significant development for a team that’s had to navigate a tough stretch without its top offensive weapon.
This wasn’t Horvat’s first stint on the shelf this season. He had only just returned from a separate lower-body injury - same area, different issue - that kept him out earlier in the year. That previous injury occurred during a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on December 11, and he managed just eight games before going down again.
The Islanders had hoped Horvat might rejoin them during the latter half of their recent seven-game road trip. But general manager Mathieu Darche made it clear: the team was playing it safe.
According to Darche, had it been playoff time, Horvat would’ve suited up. But with the long view in mind, they opted for caution.
That’s a smart call - and one that speaks to Horvat’s value. He’s not just the leading goal scorer; he’s the offensive heartbeat of this team.
His absence has been felt, even if the Islanders have managed to stay afloat. Without Horvat in the lineup, they’ve gone 7-5-2, collecting 16 out of a possible 28 points.
That’s a .571 point percentage - respectable, but not the kind of pace that locks up playoff spots come April.
Now, with Horvat nearing a return, the big question shifts to how head coach Patrick Roy will reconfigure the lineup. Getting your top scorer back is always a boost, but it also means reshuffling lines and reestablishing chemistry. Roy will have options - and decisions to make.
For now, the Islanders are just glad to see No. 14 back in action. His return couldn’t come at a better time.