The Islanders in awe of Bo Horvats superpower as he eyes rarefied air
LAS VEGAS — The Islanders are packin’ the fastest gun in the East as they head to the West to continue their seven-game road trip on Thursday here in Sin City.Bo Horvat will be looking to let ’em rip on The Strip after scoring two goals in the Islanders’ 5-0 shutout of the Rangers on Saturday at the Garden and adding another goal and an assist in their 3-2 overtime victory over the Devils on Monday.It’s early in the season, but something special could be happening for the 30-year-old center who was acquired from Vancouver at the 2023 trade deadline and quickly signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension that runs through the 2030-31 season.Entering Tuesday’s action across North America, Horvat was tied for second in the NHL with 12 goals.The Canadiens’ Cole Caufield had that same number, two behind leader Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche.Horvat’s superpower this season has been his shot.
His goal at Prudential Center was a beauty as he fielded a pass from Kyle Palmieri in open ice at the top of the slot, skated in between the circles and lifted a wrister to the top left corner past Jacob Markstrom.It wouldn’t be accurate to assert Horvat is leaving his teammates speechless because they have plenty to say.“I think he might be the best shooter in the world right now,” Mat Barzal, who scored the overtime winner in Newark, said of Horvat.
“And that’s not just ’cause he’s getting lucky, it’s ’cause his shot is truly world-class.Anytime he’s around the net, he’s got a chance.
In the slot, [the puck’s] got a great chance of going in.None of it’s luck.
It’s work and he’s got an amazing shot.”Jonathan Drouin skates on the second line with Barzal and Simon Holmstrom, but is the right wing on the first power-play unit, which is centered by Horvat.Like all of the Islanders, Drouin knows what to do when he’s on the ice with the sniper.“Right now it’s kind of a running gag we got,” Drouin said.
“I said it ea...