The Hockey News caught up with New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat to discuss his mindset while he and his teammates push for a playoff berth.
New York Islanders Bo Horvat and his teammates have just two games left in the regular season. If they win both, at the very least snag three points, they will be competing in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Qualifying for the playoffs is nothing new for this Islanders group, having missed the postseason just once since 2018.
For Horvat, playoff hockey has not been a norm, qualifying just twice with Vancouver, back in his rookie season (2014-15) and after the COVID-riddled 2019-20 campaign.
Horvat can taste a playoff berth, and that has him amped up.
"This is why you play the game. You want to be in the playoffs, and you want to play meaningful games down the stretch, and to be in this situation now, it definitely feels great," Horvat told The Hockey News. "I want to close it out so bad, and you want to make it so bad, so I mean, these last two games are obviously super important, and we got to be ready to go."
The first-year Islander went viral Saturday night following postgame comments that threw a bit of shade at the Canucks.
When asked about what it's been like to play in front of the UBS Arena crowd during his interview from the Islanders bench in front of the Islanders faithful, he made some statement.
"It's been unbelievable. A lot better than Vancouver, I'll tell you that for free," Horvat said before smirking and walking off the bench.
Horvat did not expect his comment to go viral and did backpedal a bit following Monday's morning skate, citing that he meant no disrespect to the Canucks organization or the fan base and that he was just incredibly excited after a monumental win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
His comments were more to show his support for Islanders fans, who have been rooting for him before he even stepped foot on Long Island.
He immediately felt the love, signing a Horvat Islanders jersey at the All-Star festivities just days after being traded and hearing his name chanted after scoring on UBS Arena ice for the first time in blue and orange in his second game with the franchise.
"A lot of those moments, it's just kind of what got me caught up in that moment," Horvat said. "And I think now, you just appreciate it so much that they appreciate you, and you're trying to make a difference here, and they realize that.
"It's a great fan base, and they've been excited and a lot of fun to play in front of."
While the initial excitement for Horvat was justified, a player potting goals like it was nobody's business coming to a team where scoring wasn't a strong suit, there was a period of struggle.
Once Mathew Barzal went down, Horvat lost his scoring touch, lighting the lamp just four times over his last 21 games after scoring 31 in 49 games with Vancouver.
Although fans voiced their frustration on social media, mainly because Horvat had been inked to an eight-year extension worth an annual $8.5 million before playing a game, he continued to feel the support.
"They've been really supportive. And, like when you said my points were struggling, I wasn't getting on the scoresheet," Horvat said. "As long as you're winning games, it's all they really care about, and I think it's been a real treat to play in front of people like that."
The Islanders have gone 16-8-4 since his arrival and, without a doubt, would not be in a playoff spot without him.
When Barzal inked his eight-year extension before the start of the season, he cited the fan base as a significant reason why he wanted to stay.
Horvat didn't get to experience that love and support before putting pen to paper.
But he did do his due diligence.
"You obviously ask questions, right?" Horvat said. "But you never really know until you actually play the game. And so, obviously, that was a question of how the fan base was, and I've known, just playing here a couple of times, that they are very passionate and supportive."
When Horvat joined the squad, the Islanders were not in a playoff spot, and the newcomer did feel the pressure, feeling like it was his job to help turn the season around for New York and help them find a way into the playoffs.
"Obviously, I want to be a big part of that and be a big part of the reason why we make the playoffs, and hopefully, we can get the job done here these last two games," Horvat said. "And I mean, I think there is belief in here, and you just got to go and get it."