Bo Horvat returns to the ice for Islanders after “scary” open-ice hit from Blackhawks’ Frank Nazar

The Islanders captain is back on the ice at Saturday’s morning skate after taking a late open-ice hit from Chicago’s Frank Nazar in Thursday night’s win.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The New York Islanders avoided a prolonged scare when captain Bo Horvat returned to the ice for Saturday’s morning skate after taking what was described as a “scary” open-ice hit earlier this week. Horvat was injured on the play late in Chicago’s win over Thursday night, a contest in which the Islanders ultimately came out on top.

According to the report, Horvat’s contact came from Chicago Blackhawks winger Frank Nazar. The hit was characterized as “dirty” and open-ice, a combination that tends to raise immediate concern because of the risk that body position and timing create when play is moving at speed and players are separated from the boards.

Importantly for New York, the captain’s presence at the morning skate indicates the incident did not keep him out of practice, at least on the day the team was preparing after the game. For a franchise that relies on veteran leadership to stabilize line matchups and late-game execution, having the captain available can matter as much for the dressing room as for the score sheet.

The timeline, as described, is tight. Horvat took the hit late in Thursday night’s game, then was on the ice for the Islanders’ next scheduled on-ice session the following day. That quick recovery can be the difference between a short maintenance period and a situation that forces a captain to miss meaningful preparation time.

While the report frames the contact as serious, it does not provide additional medical specifics or disciplinary outcomes. The NHL’s standards around player safety are enforced game to game, but the public details available here focus on Horvat’s status and participation rather than any league review or sanctions.

For Chicago, Nazar’s name will now be associated with a moment that drew attention beyond the immediate play. In the early part of the season, young players often build habits that coaches want to refine, and incidents involving open-ice hits can quickly become points of emphasis in how a player assesses separation, speed, and timing.

New York’s next look will be whether Horvat can handle the full practice workload and translate that into his role once games resume. If he remains in the lineup as expected, the Islanders will be able to keep their leadership continuity while moving past a moment that briefly threatened to disrupt their plans.

Why It Matters

If Horvat is available, the Islanders can keep their leadership and minutes continuity without a disruption that sometimes follows serious contact.
A quick return to the ice can reduce uncertainty around line stability and matchup planning in the days immediately after the game.
The incident puts attention on Chicago’s Frank Nazar and the league-wide focus on player safety and open-ice contact.
For both teams, the next steps are practical: whether Horvat progresses normally from skate participation to full participation in team preparation.

Sources

Key Facts

Bo Horvat is reported to be good to go after an open-ice hit earlier this week.
The hit occurred late in Thursday night’s game between the Islanders and Chicago, described as a “dirty” open-ice hit.
The player credited with the hit was Chicago winger Frank Nazar.
Horvat returned to the ice for Saturday morning skate.
The report describes the hit as “scary” but does not add further medical or disciplinary details.