New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat will miss at least a week due to a lower-body injury sustained in a 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on New Year's Day. The team's leading scorer, who was recently named to Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics, collided with Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi in the third period. Meanwhile, goaltender Ilya Sorokin returned to practice for the first time since his own injury.
Bo Horvat, the New York Islanders' top performer this season with 21 goals and 33 points in 36 games, suffered a lower-body injury during the third period of Thursday's 7-2 defeat to the Utah Mammoth. The 30-year-old forward got tangled with Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi at mid-ice and did not return to the game. The injury occurred just a day after Horvat was selected for Team Canada's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy confirmed Horvat's status after Friday's practice at UBS Arena, where the forward was absent. "He's not going to play this week, and we're going to evaluate him after the week," Roy said. Horvat had missed five games in December due to another lower-body issue but had scored in two of his four games since returning.
The Islanders face a challenging schedule without him, hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET) and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday before a seven-game road trip starting Thursday in Nashville.
In positive news, goaltender Ilya Sorokin skated with the team for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on December 19. Sorokin, who has a 12-10-2 record with a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 24 games, will back up David Rittich against Toronto. Roy plans for Sorokin to start against New Jersey. "Just for him to get back into game shape, get a couple of practices in and play against New Jersey," Roy said.
Rittich, who has started the last six games with a 3-2-1 record, did not practice Friday. The team also adjusted lines, pairing Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal on the top line, both leading the Islanders with 14 points over the last 20 games.