The Islanders are in limbo on Bo Horvat’s status, with their newly-named captain still being evaluated on Friday after Frank Nazar’s illegal check to the head late in Thursday night’s win over Chicago.
Horvat was immediately pulled out of the game by the league’s concussion spotters, and didn’t take part in a very optional practice on Friday at UBS Arena.
“I think he’s going to see our people again this morning and see how he feels,” coach Pete DeBoer said.
The NHL’s department of player safety said that it would have a hearing for Nazar on Friday, which could prompt a suspension.
Though that may be some measure of justice, it would do nothing to help the Islanders should they be without Horvat for Saturday’s game against the Lightning or beyond.
Horvat’s four goals in four games lead the Islanders and so too did his 31 goals last season. He was also the only Islander named to an Olympic team.
With 1:33 to go in Thursday’s match and the Islanders leading 3-1, Horvat was upended with a late shoulder to the head area after shooting the puck into an empty net.
The Islanders reacted with furor, jumping into the ensuing melee to defend the captain.
“I definitely think [the hit] was over the line,” Kyle Palmieri said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily taking liberties. It’s a fast game, Bo is in a vulnerable position and he’s got to know better.
“Hopefully everything goes well with Bo and he’s ready to go. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team, and the hit is what it is and it’s out of our hands now. We reacted as a team and stuck up for each other.”
Mat Barzal continued skating on his own Friday, this time for a longer period than Thursday, but DeBoer struck a note of caution regarding his eventual return from left kneecap inflammation.
“We’re not even having those conversations yet,” DeBoer said when asked about a timeline for Barzal to rejoin the team. “We’re still in the initial phase of return to play.”
While the Islanders have maintained Barzal is progressing and feeling good, the timelines attached to his recovery were in terms of his return to skating, not his return to full practices or playing.
The Islanders have a chance to win three consecutive games at home to start the season for just the third time this century, according to team statistician Eric Hornick.
They swept the Lightning last season in three games between the two teams.
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