Rosner Wrap: Horvat Gets 1st For Islanders, Latest on Wahlstrom

Good morning and happy Wednesday. The New York Islanders have won four straight games, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers and the Seattle Kraken since returning from the NHL All-Star break. Newcomer Bo Horvat is fitting in as if he’s been here for years, Samuel Bolduc scored his first career goal, and the vibes in the locker room are immaculate.

Before we get to the New York Islanders stories to know for today, there are a few updates for you.

Alexander Romanov, who missed Tuesday’s game due to personal reasons, is not expected to be miss much time at all.

We also had the chance to see Oliver Wahlstrom last night, who is in a leg cast and on crutches. NYI Hockey Now has shared that we believed he would be out for the season, but no official announcement has been made.

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert was asked about an update, and he said they are not sure if he is out for the season, but right now, he’s just out.

NYI HOCKEY NOW

One way to get the nerves out of the way at home is by scoring in your first game in front of the fans. And that Bo Horvat did as he finished off a Mathew Barzal pass for his 32nd of his season at 5:08 of the second period, setting a new career-high.

On the second of a back-to-back, the New York Islanders crushed the Seattle Kraken 4-0. Bo Horvat scored his first goal in an Islanders sweater, Samuel Bolduc scored his first NHL goal, and Ilya Sorokin did the rest for his fifth shutout of the season, stopping 30 of 30.

You know that expression, something to do with taking advantage of your opportunities? Yeah, that’s what Samuel Bolduc did as 7:49 into the first period, Bolduc let a puck go from the point, a seeing-eye shot, that went right through the wickets of Seattle netminder Martin Jones for his first career NHL goal.

Hudson Fasching’s road to a stable NHL job was not a direct route by any means. His story is one full of more downs than ups, signs that an NHL career was more of a dream than a reality, especially after each passing year. But Hudson Fasching found a way.

NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

Boston Hockey Now: From the White House to the NHL? Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and US Secretary of Labror is reportedly the new executive director of the NHLPA.

Florida Hockey Now: Mascot Gate? With his team getting beat up on the ice, a Tampa Bay Lightning fan tussled with Florida Panthers mascot Viktor E. Ratt in the third period of Monday night’s game at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise and is now under investigation.

Washington Hockey Now: T.J. Oshie still can’t fully get a grip on the fact that he has become an icon in the city of D.C. and in the NHL as one of the most high-energy players in the game, an Olympic hero and a Stanley Cup champion. In fact, the NHL wasn’t even on his radar as a kid.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Colorado Avalanche squandered a third-period lead and lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were also not very happy with Penguins center Jeff Carter for his late-third-period hit on star defenseman Cale Makar.

Philly Hockey Now: In a way, the Philadelphia Flyers are giving their season-ticket holders a refund. The team on Tuesday sent an e-mail to season-ticket holders, telling them their tickets to games this April are, in effect, “on us.”

Detroit Hockey Now: Captain Dylan Larkin came away feeling as if his Detroit Red Wings left too much good work unfinished in Tuesday’s home loss to the Edmonton Oilers. That has been a theme too often this season.

Vegas Hockey Now: The Vegas Golden Knights kicked off the back-half of the 2022-23 season with a strong win over the Nashville Predators 5-1. After losing four-straight games and going 1-5-2 without captain Mark Stone leading up to the break, this win was a much-needed one.

Colorado Hockey Now: Things were going great for the Colorado Avalanche. Until they weren’t. A dominant first two periods were wasted, as the Avalanche could not capitalize on all their chances. They sat back in the third period, and it cost them.

San Jose Hockey Now: The San Jose Sharks won their first overtime game since Oct. 27 on the backs of brilliant performances from Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier, and Kaapo Kahkonen. Head coach David Quinn does not want to lose his two best players.