Frank Nazar suspended two games for illegal check to the head of Bo Horvat

The NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar for two games without pay after deeming an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat. The suspension was announced Friday following the incident late in the second period of an Islanders 4-1 win on Thursday night.

According to the league’s ruling as reported by Yahoo Sports, the check occurred with 1:35 remaining in the game. Horvat, one of the Islanders’ most experienced forwards, was the player targeted in the contact, and the NHL determined the action warranted supplemental discipline beyond the in-game result.

For Nazar, the two-game ban is an immediate, coach-and-roster-impacting absence. Even in the early stretch of a season, short suspensions can shift line stability, increase the importance of depth forwards, and alter minutes distribution for a team working toward its best matchups.

Chicago will now have to navigate the practical side of the penalty, including the forward rotations that typically follow a call-up or lineup adjustment. The suspension also adds pressure to keep the game plan intact while reducing the risk of further disciplinary trouble, since head-contact incidents are a high-scrutiny area for the league.

The situation is also a reminder of how the NHL evaluates illegal contact. Checks are judged not only by whether they land, but by the risk level created to the head, the timing, and whether the action reflects avoidable contact or an elevated threat. In cases involving the head, the league often emphasizes deterrence, which is why even a short suspension can carry broader consequences.

For the Islanders, the outcome of the Thursday night game already provided a result, but Horvat’s status and role remain central to what comes next. Chicago’s suspension creates a direct storyline for the next meetings between the teams, while New York will look to keep its physical edge and maintain the kind of late-game execution that contributed to its 4-1 win.

Nazar’s return will be a key watch point for Chicago. His ability to play within the league’s standards for dangerous contact will be part of his immediate on-ice evaluation, and the Blackhawks’ coaches will likely want to see how they re-stabilize forward assignments during his absence and whether they can maintain the same tempo after he is eligible to come back.