As Bo Horvat was putting the finishing touches on a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks, firing a shot from the defensive zone into an empty net, the Islanders’ captain was on the receiving end of an elbow to head from Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar.
It was Horvat’s second goal of the game, but as he was shaken up on the UBS Arena ice, his teammates would come to his defense going after Nazar setting off some rough stuff with 1:33 to go in the game.
“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,” said left wing Emil Heineman who scored his second goal of the season in the victory. “It’s a cheap shot I would say. I don’t like to see that and I like the way we responded.”
Nazar was given a five-minute match misconduct for an illegal check to the head of Horvat, but now the Islanders are holding their breath on the condition of their captain.
There wasn’t an update after the game as Horvat was still being evaluated and it’s possible that he’s in concussion protocol.
“You don’t like that hit, especially at that time of the game and on who it’s on,” said Islanders Head Coach Peter DeBoer. “I think they got the call right. We’ll see, but you don’t like to see that on anybody.”
One of the Islanders who came to Horvat’s defense was defenseman Logan Stanley who had two assists in the game giving him four on the season.
He was given a ten-minute misconduct, but sticking up for Horvat was the right thing to do for all of the blue jerseys who got involved.
“100%,” said Stanley. “That’s our captain…that’s our leader. It doesn’t matter who it is. You come after one of us…you gotta come after all of us. Great job by everybody sticking up for him and that’s what good teams do.”
One of Stanley’s assists was a nifty pass setting up Anthony Duclair for his first goal of the season. As for the hit on Horvat, Duclair didn’t see it live but came to a conclusion when he saw the replay on the video board.
“I think that was a pretty dirty play,” said Duclair. “(Whether it’s) Bo or anybody, I think we would stick up for each other. I think that’s non-negotiable. We’re always going to have each other’s backs for sure.”
There should be an update on Horvat’s condition on Friday morning when the Islanders hold an optional skate at UBS Arena as they prepare for Saturday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Horvat is off to a great start to the season with four goals, but now the Islanders are just hoping that he’ll be okay after taking that vicious hit from Nazar.
The Islanders captain was on the receiving end of an elbow to head from Blackhawks center Frank Nazar.
The Islanders captain was on the receiving end of an elbow to head from Blackhawks center Frank Nazar.
