Bo Horvat provided a much-needed offensive breakthrough, scoring twice, including an overtime winner as the New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4.
Horvat ended a multi-match goal drought that came after injuries slowed his early-season momentum.
He opened the scoring in the first period by finishing a rebound from Mat Barzal, then sealed the victory with a breakaway goal in overtime that boosted the Islanders’ playoff push.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling well,” Horvat said, according to the New York Post.
“Always great to be on the scoreboard. It’s always great to score and help your team like that. There are other parts of my game that I’m very proud of. Face-offs, penalty kill – [if] Things aren’t going the way I want offensively, I have other things to fall back on. It sure feels good to get that tonight.
The performance came a day after Horvat criticized his own missed opportunities in a loss to Washington.
“It’s kind of up to me,” Horvat had told The Post in Washington.
“I have to start scoring the chances I get. Two breakaways today, some strange rushes. It’s not going in right now. I have to figure out a way to make it happen. It’s just not going in. I have to hit the net on that one breakaway.” [Stevenson] gets his button on the second. He played well tonight, their goalkeeper played very well. I have to give them some credit.”
