Robert Bortuzzo made a key play on the Islanders' Game 4 double-overtime winner. Here's what he has meant to this group since coming aboard in December.
Robert Bortuzzo made a key play on the Islanders' Game 4 double-overtime winner. Here's what he has meant to this group since coming aboard in December.
ELMONT, NY -- At 1:38 of the third period of Game 4, the New York Islanders took a 2-1 after Jean-Gabriel Pageau buried on the power play:
Holding onto a third-period lead has been New York's kryptonite this season, blowing 25 third-period leads, 24 during the regular season and one through the first three games of the playoffs.
The Islanders staying alive depended on shutting the door.
Everything was looking good until the Islanders made a weak change, which forced defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to take a hooking penalty at 13:34 of the third.
The Carolina Hurricanes tied the game at 2-2 just 34 seconds later, courtesy of Stefan Noesen, who played hero for his hockey team in Game 2:
"I was obviously disappointed," Bortuzzo said postgame. "I take a penalty in a big moment there. I kind of got caught up in a weird change, but regardless, it stings."
The Islanders and Hurricanes went to overtime, but neither side could find the back of the net, as we needed a second extra session to get a result.
While the hero on the stat sheet will be Mathew Barzal, it was Robert Bortuzzo's shots that caromed off of No. 13 in front of goal at 1:24 of double-overtime that sent UBS Arena into a frenzy:
"This is a group that's resilient, and we pick each other up here when guys make mistakes," Bortuzzo said. "And then you get a chance to contribute, and one finds the net. It's just a case of sticking with it and trying not to get too high or too low in the playoffs. That's always the model."
That point was Bortuzzo's first as a member of the Islanders.
Head coach Patrick Roy was asked about Bortuzzo's mistake but seeing him come through in the biggest of moments.
"I don't really look at it like that. We win and lose as a team, so I'm not going into that part of it. But what I love about him is that he brings that stability that we need. I mean, he's a big man. He's tough to play against. And it's nice to see someone be rewarded for the way he's been playing.
"I thought he had a strong game, and sometimes, the plus and minuses are not always the fair thing, and seeing him being on the ice on that winning goal and putting that puck on the net, I was happy for him."
When the Islanders acquired Bortuzzo on Dec. 8 for a seventh-round pick in 2024, he became the only player on the roster to have ever won a Stanley Cup, winning one with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
He knows what it takes to win, especially being part of a team that faces tremendous adversity.
That year, the Blues were the worst teams in the NHL through the first half of the season before a new sense of belief came through their doors once Craig Berube was hired, replacing Mike Yeo.
They went on a tear in the second half of the season, winning 11 straight games after the All-Star break, getting themselves back in the mix, finishing the season third in the central division.
It's a cliche, but it was an "anything is possible" moment.
The Islanders faced that adversity in just qualifying for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially when they went three games down to the Hurricanes.
While Bortuzzo fills the on-ice role of Scott Mayfield, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 1 of the regular season and never truly recovered before being shut down for the season before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, his experience only helped this group.
"Winning is something you want to hear about. It's not just saying, 'Oh, I won the Stanley Cup'. It's what the people want to know," Roy said. "What was your ride? How'd you get there? What did you do? That's what you want to hear from guys that went far in the playoffs, and we have a lot of guys that went to the final four two times in a short period of time with the islanders. So, I think that's what you want to hear from those guys."
Barzal is a big fan of Bortuzzo, the player, and the person.
"He's just an awesome team guy," Barzal said. "With the fire he plays with, and the energy he plays with, blocking shots, hitting guys, doing all those sorts of things, it really injects life into our group.
"And just as a person, I mean, he's a great teammate. And we're lucky to have him and his insight on things in this locker room."
Bortuzzo hasn't been perfect. While he excels in the shot-blocking, his foot speed has certainly been something to pay attention to, especially with Sebastian Aho watching from above.
There were times when you thought that Roy would make a switch, but Bortuzzo, like Roy and Barzal said, has that experience and knows what it takes to win.
Yes, he takes a tough penalty that could have played a large role in the Islanders packing up their lockers and heading home on Sunday.
But Roy gave Bortuzzo the chance to redeem himself and help the Islanders stave off elimination, and that's what he did.
"Bobby, he's a high-character person, not just a hockey player. And with his presence in a room and the kind of guy he is, that makes a huge difference on the energy and the aura that he has," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "It's very infectious, and he's come in and played a gritty hockey game. He's tough. He's big. He uses his strength and a well-deserved moment for him the other night, and one the reason why we're still playing here.
"You could tell right away how genuine of a person he was, how much he meant to that room in St. Louis, and the importance that he played in that role and their success. And I think he just continued to be who he was. I mean, as I've gotten to know him, I can tell that he's the same person as he was over in St. Louis, just making an impact each day with us."