Bo Horvat Delivers Clutch Game-Winner for Second Consecutive Contest as Islanders Sweep Season Series Against Devils With 3-1 Victory

Bo Horvat continued his late-game heroics with a crucial go-ahead goal in the final minutes, leading the New York Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Thursday night. Horvat's backhand tally with just 3:27 remaining broke a 1-1 tie and marked his second consecutive game-winner, cementing his reputation as one of the NHL's most clutch performers this season. The goal also represented the 600th point of Horvat's NHL career, a milestone the veteran center reached in dramatic fashion as the Islanders completed a perfect 4-0 season sweep of their Metropolitan Division rivals.

The game-winning sequence began with Horvat losing an offensive zone faceoff to Devils center Nico Hischier, but the Canadian forward quickly recovered, skating onto the loose puck at the bottom of the left circle. Displaying the hockey IQ that has defined his 12-year career, Horvat maneuvered into the slot and unleashed a perfectly placed backhand that beat Devils goaltender Jake Allen to give New York a 2-1 lead at 16:33 of the third period. Mathew Barzal sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, with Horvat picking up the assist for a two-point night that further solidified his team-leading goal-scoring totals.

For Horvat, the performance represented his fifth game-winner of the season, the most on the Islanders roster and a testament to his ability to elevate his game when it matters most. The 30-year-old center, who will represent Team Canada at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, has been instrumental in keeping the Islanders firmly in the playoff hunt throughout a competitive Eastern Conference campaign. His consistency and leadership have been particularly valuable during a season that has seen New York navigate injuries and inconsistent goaltending. With his latest clutch performance, Horvat reminded everyone why the Islanders committed significant resources to acquire him from the Vancouver Canucks in 2023.

Ilya Sorokin was excellent between the pipes for New York, stopping 23 of 24 shots to earn his 24th victory of the season. The Russian netminder's steady presence gave the Islanders confidence to play their structured defensive system, limiting New Jersey's high-powered offense to just one goal despite several dangerous opportunities. Casey Cizikas opened the scoring for the Islanders in the first period, giving New York an early lead they would protect through two periods before Horvat's heroics in the third. The victory was particularly sweet for the Islanders, who have now won all four meetings with the Devils this season by a combined score of 14-6.

The Devils, meanwhile, head into the Olympic break with frustration mounting after a disappointing performance against a divisional opponent. Despite outshooting the Islanders and controlling stretches of play, New Jersey couldn't solve Sorokin when it mattered most. The loss highlighted ongoing issues with finishing chances and protecting leads, problems that have plagued the Devils throughout an inconsistent season. Allen made several strong saves but couldn't prevent Horvat's decisive strike, leaving New Jersey to ponder what went wrong during the three-week layoff. The team's struggles against the Islanders specifically will require attention when the rivals inevitably meet again in future seasons.

As the NHL enters its Olympic break, the Islanders find themselves in a strong playoff position thanks to contributions from players like Horvat, who has embraced his role as the team's go-to scorer in crucial moments. His back-to-back game-winning goals heading into the pause give New York tremendous confidence and momentum to carry into the season's final stretch. When play resumes on February 25, the Islanders will look to maintain their playoff positioning with 25 games remaining, knowing that Horvat's clutch gene could be the difference between a postseason berth and a disappointing finish. For now, though, all eyes turn to Milano Cortina, where Horvat will aim to bring this same level of performance to the international stage.