Medical expert weighs in on injury timeline for NY Islanders center Bo Horvat

The New York Islanders lost much more than a hockey game on Thursday afternoon. The Isles were lambasted 7-2 by the Utah Mammoth at UBS Arena. Unfortunately, the loss stung even more given a devastating loss.

Midway through the third period, Islanders’ star Bo Horvat collided with the Mammoth’s Sean Durzi. Horvat was slow to get up. And even though he was able to skate off the ice on his own, it was evident the Islanders’ leading scorer was in considerable discomfort and could not put weight on his left leg.

The knee-jerk reaction was that Thursday’s injury is related to the groin issue that sidelined him earlier this season. But according to renowned physician, Dr. Harjas Grewal, the injury could be much different:

If Grewal is right, and he has a pretty good track record, the Islanders could be without Horvat for an extended period. A knee ligament injury, even if just a mild sprain, typically takes weeks to heal properly. That could be a potentially devastating situation for the Islanders.

For Horvat, it could be an awful break to what has otherwise been a fantastic season for the 30.-year-old. Horvat will likely undergo further testing to determine the extent of the injury. If Grewal’s best-scenario plays out, Horvat may just be dealing with a nasty bruise.

Team Canada participation in jeopardy for Islanders’ star

The injury to Horvat not only risks his playing time with the Islanders but also his participation with Team Canada. Horvat was named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster on Wednesday, drawing praise across the league.

However, his injury on Thursday jeopardizes his participation with Team Canada. With about five weeks to go before the Olympics, Horvat will be racing against the clock. Unless Horvat’s ailment turns out to be a day-to-day issue, it will be tough to envision Horvat being ready for the Olympics.

Of course, that’s just hearsay at this point. Until there is a definitive prognosis in hand, Horvat could still be on the roster.

Team Canada management, however, must have felt a collective vein pop at the sight of Horvat’s injury. While Canada has a deep talent pool, Horvat will not be an easy player to replace. The Islanders’ star is one of the best two-way centers in the league. As such, Team Canada will be looking at their stand-by list for someone with a comparable skill set.

Here’s hoping that Horvat’s injury is just an unfortunate run-in. Hopefully, it’s just one of those hits that sting like crazy, but nothing more than just an extremely painful encounter.