Blackhawks' Frank Nazar suspended two game for cheap shot on NY Islanders Bo Horvat

Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar was suspended for two games without pay for an illegal check to Bo Horvat’s head late in Thursday’s 4-1 New York Islanders victory at UBS Arena. Nazar received a match penalty for the hit, which came with just 1:35 remaining in a game the Isles had comfortably in hand.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Nazar will forfeit $68,041 based on his average annual salary. For the Islanders, though, the suspension is secondary to the status of their leading center.

"It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head are satisfied for this play," the league's video announcing the suspension said. "The head is the main point of contact [and]... the head contact here is avoidable."

Head coach Pete DeBoer said Horvat was being evaluated following Thursday’s win. During Friday’s optional skate, DeBoer offered the same update, leaving uncertainty around Horvat’s condition and availability.

Horvat scored twice as the Islanders responded to their early adversity with a convincing win over Chicago. His production helped drive the victory, but the late hit shifted the conversation from his performance to whether the Isles now have another significant injury concern.

With Alexander Romanov already lost for the season, the Islanders hardly need another reminder of how quickly the picture can change.

There’s no reason to jump ahead of the evaluation or assume how much time, if any, Horvat could miss. Still, his importance makes the lack of an update difficult to ignore. He’s a player this team depends on for goals, important faceoffs and difficult minutes.

Nazar now knows how long he’ll be out. The Islanders don’t yet know whether Horvat will be.

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