Bortuzzo, the Game Four hero, returns to UBS Arena after signing with Utah this summer.
Bortuzzo, the Game Four hero, returns to UBS Arena after signing with Utah this summer.
ELMONT, NY -- Robert Bortuzzo's time with the New York Islanders wasn't long, but it was memorable for the team and the grizzled veteran, who is now a member of the Utah Hockey Club.
After the Islanders acquired Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2019, he played in 11 games before suffering a lower-body injury that kept him out for almost three months.
Bortuzzo returned at the tail-end of the season and left his mark when the team needed him the most.
In double overtime of Game Four of their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the Islanders needing a goal to keep their season alive, Bortuzzo sent a wrist shot on goal, with Mathew Barzal deflecting it home at 1:24 of the extra frame:
“I think the coolest thing wa that I had some friends and family in town," Bortuzzo told The Hockey News on Thursday morning as he reminisced before battling the Islanders. "It's kind of the back end of my career here, so for them to be in the building for that was probably the coolest part.
"Barzy likes to say, 'You got the goal,’ but I tell him, ‘I got the glory’ but yeah, it was just cool to push the series. We battled hard that series and didn't go away."
This summer, Bortuzzo signed a one-year deal with the Utah Hockey Club
Looking back on his time on Long Island, he had great things to say.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on Long Island. It was good people. Organizationally, it was high-end and awesome guys. I was very fortunate to step in that situation. It was a fun run.”
All the Islanders had glowing things to say about Bortuzzo, and it's no different for the young players on Utah.
“Yeah, he's an unreal dude. Big Bad Bortuzzo, Bobbo. I really like him," Utah forward Dylan Guenther told THN. "He knew one of my buddies from St Louis, [Jake] Neighbours, so we could connect off that. He's a really good guy, someone who I can look up to and see what he does day in and day out. I can learn a lot from him.”
Fellow Utah forward Logan Cooley has loved getting to know Bortuzzo.
“He’s unbelievable. He's a great guy. I love being around him," Cooley told THN. "He's hilarious and just a great guy in the locker room overall. You can tell he's been around for a while, and that's super important to have on this team. “
One big shot. One big celebration.
That's Bortuzzo's legacy on Long Island.
"I've never been a part of an overtime winner in my career, and I played in a fair amount of playoff overtime games," Bortuzzo said. "It was definitely a cool thing to check off, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on Long Island."
Playing for Patrick Roy was a highlight of his Islanders' experience.
“I enjoyed it. He's very detailed, held guys accountable, and very passionate," Bortuzzo said. "That’s all you can really ask for out of a head coach.”
It's only been a few months since we've seen Bortuzzo, but one thing is different. He's got his bear back.
“That was the first thing I did [was grow the beard back]," Bortuzzo said. It was definitely a cool thing [to cut it]. They get the buy-in from guys, and it's mostly just an assumed thing now that guys are doing.
"So it's nice to have it back, but I was happy to buy in and do it.”