Things have taken some strange turns for the Vancouver Canucks since Bo Horvat’s departure, but what happened to Horvat on Tuesday night at UBS Arena might top even the wildest twists in his former team’s journey.
Let’s rewind for a second. It’s been three years since the Canucks traded Horvat to the New York Islanders.
In that span, Vancouver has ridden a roller coaster of highs and lows-winning their division, nearly punching a ticket to the Conference Finals, moving on from J.T. Miller (the player they once prioritized over Horvat), handing the captain’s “C” to Quinn Hughes, and now, finding themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings.
That’s a full-on saga.
But Tuesday night? That was something else entirely.
Late in the first period of a game between the Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Matthew Schaefer notched his 16th goal of the season. Horvat picked up the secondary assist-his 307th career helper-but it was how he earned it that turned heads.
While working behind the Penguins’ net, Horvat appeared to collide with… a bird. Yes, a bird.
“Holy-,” Horvat exclaimed, clearly caught off guard as he made contact with the unexpected intruder. “There’s a bird in here.
Dude, I ran into him behind the net. Poor guy.”
The moment was caught on mic, and the clip quickly made the rounds, showing Horvat’s genuine surprise and concern. It’s not every day you see a forward battling the forecheck and wildlife in the same shift.
The Islanders later confirmed the bird-dubbed the “rally bird”-was safely located and released back into the wild. Crisis averted, though the moment instantly became one of the most bizarre highlights of the season.
Now, wildlife interruptions aren’t completely unheard of in the NHL. Over the years, birds and bats have made the occasional game-time cameo.
There’s even a tale from 1989 involving a seagull halting play during an Islanders game. Still, this one stands out-not just for the unexpected visitor, but for Horvat’s response and what followed.
Because after the bird encounter, Horvat didn’t just shake it off-he took over the game. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, and finished the night with a +5 rating across 24:35 of ice time. That’s the kind of performance that reminds you why he once wore the “C” in Vancouver and why he’s still a major presence on the ice.
With the 2026 Olympics just around the corner, and Horvat set to join Team Canada, this showing couldn’t have come at a better time. He’s heating up, and if Tuesday night is any indication, he’s ready to take flight-bird collisions and all.