Bo Horvat hopes to return for Rangers’ vital game
The New York Islanders got a much needed positive update on Bo Horvath while continuing to navigate a a difficult part without their best scorer. While Horvat won’t be available for Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena, his return appears to be getting closer.
Horvath was sidelined since Dec. 11 after suffering a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks, when his right skate got tangled with defender Drew Helleson. Horvath was briefly sidelined before he was able to return to the Islanders bench, but has not appeared in a game since.
“Bo Horvath says he hopes to return Saturday against NIR, but isn’t ready to put a definitive time frame on when he will play. But he feels good, happy to be skating with his teammates again,” Newsday’s Andrew Gross reported Horvath cautious optimism after practiceposting on X, formerly Twitter.
While that update effectively rules Horvat out for Tuesday’s contest against the Devils, it opens the door for a possible return against the New York Rangers in a key division game. The Islanders have clearly felt his absence, losing three of their last four games and struggling to create a consistent offense without their main center.
On Monday morning, Horvath skated with teammates for the first time from injury, albeit in a red non-contact jersey. His presence marked a significant step forward in his recovery, especially after previously skating alone and falling behind when the team traveled to the Buffalo Sabers last week.
#Isles Bo Horvath returned to the ice with the team for the first time since December 11th. pic.twitter.com/knsCHLaPKSE
— Stephen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 22, 2025
Before the injury, Horvath was in strong form, scoring five goals and one assist in the previous seven games, including three power-play points. In total, the 30-year-old scored 31 points, with 19 goals and 12 assists in 32 games, as the team’s top scorer.
With the team on a long injury list and going through the final games before the holiday break, Horvat’s return, especially for the high-stakes showdown with the Rangers, could be a key spark as the Islanders look to stabilize their season and regain momentum.
2025-12-23 07:50:00
