Bo Horvat emphasizes NY Islanders cleaning up details and finishing on special teams

The New York Islanders left Pittsburgh disappointed in the result but encouraged by how they played. Center Bo Horvat said the team’s 4–3 loss showed flashes of the pace and connectivity Patrick Roy emphasized all camp — but also highlighted the details that will decide games moving forward.

“Obviously we’d like to have gotten the win,” Horvat said. “There were some positives coming out of the game, but at the end of the day, our main focus is to get wins under our belt — and that starts here tomorrow night.”

Horvat echoed Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s praise of the team’s speed and transition play. “I liked our pace,” Horvat said. “Our D were jumping up in the play and being a part of the rush, keeping plays alive. We need to continue that. I thought our power play looked good — it’s just a matter of it going in for us.” He also pointed to special teams as the biggest differentiator. “We can clean up our penalty kill and have some swagger out there,” Horvat said. “That confidence is going to benefit us for sure in the long run.”

When asked about Matthew Schaefer’s NHL debut, Horvat didn’t hesitate to praise the 18-year-old defenseman’s composure. “Schaefer was great,” Horvat said. “He looked super comfortable doing what he does best — using his feet and vision. He made a heck of a play to Drouin for that goal. You can see his poise with the puck and the confidence he has in himself.”

For Horvat, the message heading into Saturday’s home opener is straightforward: keep building. “If we keep that pace, clean up the details, and stay aggressive,” he said, “we’ll be a tough team to beat.”