Newly surfaced video reveals why Islanders' center Bo Horvat flipped Eklund's helmet

What initially looked like an odd moment of frustration from Bo Horvat during the New York Islanders’ 2-1 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks now has a lot more context.

The NHL announced Horvat was fined $2,500 — the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement — for flipping the visor and helmet of Sharks forward William Eklund during a third-period scrum near the San Jose bench. The incident occurred at the 16:15 mark of the third period and was initially viewed as a strange outburst by the Islanders' center.

But video that surfaced Monday tells a different story.

Earlier in the same sequence, Eklund is clearly seen ripping Horvat’s stick out of his hands during play and handing it to an equipment manager who then takes it down the Sharks’ tunnel near the bench. The stick disappears into the corridor as players continue battling along the boards.

The equipment manager can even be seen slightly grinning as he takes the stick away after it lands in the tunnel — a small moment that didn’t go unnoticed once the video began circulating online.

Later, Horvat responded.

Horvat grabbed at Eklund’s visor and helmet, flipping it upward in retaliation before skating away. There was no penalty called on the play, but the NHL Department of Player Safety later reviewed the incident and issued the fine.

Importantly, the league did not impose any additional discipline beyond the financial penalty, which will go to the NHL Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

For Islanders fans, the video makes the situation look less like a random act and more like a classic hockey response to gamesmanship.

And if anything, it reinforces something Islanders' fans already know about one of their leaders, and the former Canucks captain. Horvat may stay composed most of the time — but he’s not afraid to stand up for himself when someone crosses the line.