Islanders Ready To Roll The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/new-york-islanders-buffalo-sabres-season-opener-final-practice-barzal-wahlstrom] have the privilege of opening their 2023-24 season on home ice when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at 7:30 PM. The Islanders have a few players who will be skating in their first opening night on the island, none bigger than Bo Horvat [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-vancouver-canucks-trade-lamoriello#:%7e:text=%22I%20mean%2C%20I'm,a%20lot%20out%20of%20myself.]. The 28-year-old top-line centerman struggled in his first stint with the Islanders after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks during the 2023 All-Star break. But after a full summer to finish up the move, getting a house built, and having a full training camp with his teammates, he's ready to get the party started in front of the Islanders faithful. "I'm really excited to get in front of the home crowd, to begin with, and get in a home opener," Horvat said. "It's gonna be a lot of fun. Fans will really be buzzing, so it will be awesome to be a part of." Horvat and the rest of the Islanders have had to wait what will be eight days to start their season after finishing their preseason schedule last Friday night. They are just one of two teams who will start their season on Saturday, the other being Ross Johnston's new team, the Anaheim Ducks. "It's not ideal," Horvat said on how the schedule worked out. "I mean, we're sick of practicing and sick of not playing hockey games. You want to get going with it, and it's been a long, long week, but it gives us extra time to prepare and get ready for Saturday." The Buffalo Sabres kicked off their season Thursday night as they fell 5-1 to the New York Rangers. Horvat was keeping tabs and taking some mental notes. "Yeah, I watched a bit of the game, trying to scout the competition and get ready to go for Saturday," Horvat said. As for what he saw: "There's some really high-end skill and some high octane offense which we got to be aware of, their speed and their skill and stuff like that in the offensive zone. But other than that, we just [have to] play our game." Horvat did not stay on Long Island in the summer, heading back home to Toronto for a bit. But he's been able to get really close with his teammates since he's been back on Long Island. "It's been great to get to camp and be familiar with everybody and just kind of get to know everybody a little bit better," Horvat said. "I mean, I only got to spend two months or three months with them, so it's been great so far, but again, just want to play some hockey." He's also enjoyed just how tight a group this team really is. "Everybody is just so tight-knit here. They've been together forever, and it's like a little family in here, away from the rink, at the rink, and it's fun to be a part of," Horvat said. Head coach Lane Lambert was asked about Horvat and what he's seen since the start of camp. "We've talked a lot about him finding chemistry and working with his linemates. And from that standpoint and again, having the full training camp, I just think that he's had a good opportunity here to start right from scratch and build that chemistry with those guys," Lambert said. "In the past, there was a little bit of chemistry, and then there was an injury and things like that. So I just think it's been good, and I think he's evolved well." Horvat isn't just happy to be an Islander and begin the first of an eight-year contract. He also feels lucky: "They've made it an easy transition for me to get to know everybody," Horvat said. I'm so lucky to be here and happy to be here for another eight years."
