Horvat’s leadership sparks potential resurgence for struggling Islanders

Bo Horvat is doing all he can to keep a few smiles around. 

When a team struggles and morale falters, it often falls to a strong leader to galvanize the group and chart a path forward. 

After beginning the season winless through four games, the New York Islanders finally secured a 4–2 triumph over the Oilers on Thursday, with Bo Horvat shouldering much of the effort by scoring three of the team’s four goals. In doing so, the Islanders also earned the unenviable distinction of being the last NHL team to record points this season. 

Yet every journey has a beginning. This marked New York’s first victory under new general manager Mathieu Darche, and while the start has been less than inspiring, there remain 77 games in which the team can attempt to rewrite the script. 

What’s The Issue? 

The Islanders’ struggles are multifaceted and long-standing, with the primary issue being a lack of offensive production. While Bo Horvat’s recent hat trick provides a highlight, the team requires contributions from the entire roster to be a legitimate contender. Currently, the Islanders’ forwards are averaging roughly two goals per game, a figure insufficient to compete consistently against the league’s stronger squads. Compounding the offensive deficiencies, the team is heavily reliant on goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who is struggling early in the season. Through three starts, Sorokin has allowed four goals in each contest, leaving him without a win and posting a career-high 4.18 goals-against average—a notable spike from his 3.01 GAA in the 2023–24 season—underscoring the depth of New York’s early-season challenges. In other words, Sorokin is on track to have a career-worst season, but in all fairness to him, it’s not entirely his fault. 

The Islanders’ defensive corps has struggled in recent seasons, marked by frequent odd-man rushes, inconsistent coverage, and a general inability to control the puck or dictate the pace in their own zone—issues that have contributed to numerous losses. When a team is constantly under pressure and rarely gets a chance to catch its breath, some goals are simply inevitable. Consider Mackenzie Blackwood as an example: during the 2023-24 season with the San Jose Sharks, he posted a career-high 3.45 GAA behind a team that consistently ranked near the bottom of the standings. After his trade to the Avalanche, however, he recorded a career-low 2.33 GAA across 37 games, underscoring how much performance can depend on environment and teammates. The Islanders have a stellar goaltender in Blackwood, but his talents are being underutilized due to the team’s current struggles. 

Horvat Fights Back 

No one asked Bo Horvat to shoulder the burden in the way he did, yet, as a consummate leader, he took it upon himself to galvanize the entire roster. Having played more than a decade in the NHL and appeared in 817 career games, this marked just his second career hat trick—a feat achieved in fewer than one percent of his contests. Against the backdrop of a struggling team, Horvat’s standout performance was far from a fluke; it was a deliberate statement: “We will fight for every opportunity.” While significant work remains to be done, his effort lays the groundwork for a potential resurgence, signaling that defeat is no longer part of the Islanders’ mindset and offering hope that the team will rally back following their sluggish start.