Islanders Beat Leafs

The Bo Horvat era is just over a year old for the New York Islanders.

The team swung a deal with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30 and signed him to an extension following the year’s All-Star Game.

Horvat played his first two games as an Islander on Feb. 6 and 7 and, one year ago today, scored his first goal in blue and orange. The goal came in his UBS Arena debut against the Seattle Kraken.

Mathew Barzal, Horvat’s new wingman, stole the puck away from Seattle’s Yani Gourde and made a cross-ice pass to Horvat, who one-timed the puck past Martin Jones to give the Islanders a 4-0 lead en route to a victory.

Horvat’s goal got the crowd chanting his name and propelled him to the first Star of the Game honors.

After scoring the goal, the Islanders crowd entered a frenzy, with "HOR-VAT" chants reigning for what seemed like an eternity.

When asked what those chants meant to him following the game, all Horvat could do was smile.

"It was pretty amazing," Horvat said that night. "I haven't had a chant like that in a building that loud, I don't think ever, so that was pretty amazing."

Here's more from Horvat:

Ironically, the Islanders and Kraken will meet at UBS Arena again next Tuesday in their final matchup of the season.

TOP STORIES

A Year Ago Today: Bo Horvat Buries First Goal With Islanders