PHILADELPHIA — The Bo Horvat era began promisingly for the Islanders.
He was noticeable at both ends of the ice despite not recording a point and the Islanders won their third straight, 2-1, over the Flyers on Monday night at Wells Fargo Center. They acquired the former Canucks captain during the All-Star break/bye week and signed him to an eight-year, $68 million extension.
The Islanders (26-22-5) also scored their first power play goal in 11 games as they matched the Penguins’ 57 points. The Penguins, who hold the final wild-card spot, have played four fewer games.
The Islanders, who got 25 saves from Semyon Varlamov as he started consecutive games for the first time this season, still have been held to two or fewer goals in eight straight games and 13 of their last 14. President/general manager Lou Lamoriello sent Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a top-12 protected first-round pick to the Canucks to solve that.
Carter Hart made 28 saves for the Flyers (21-22-9).
Horvat’s debut also marked a potential long-term switch in roles for Mathew Barzal, provided the two elite playmakers can find chemistry as linemates. Horvat centered the top line — essentially Barzal’s job since John Tavares left for Toronto in 2018 — while Barzal slid over to right wing. Josh Bailey completed the trio.
“There definitely are some differences,” Barzal said. “Maybe it allows me to use my speed a little more. Maybe a little more attacking one-on-one. Making those little plays on the wall, spring guys for two-on-ones. I feel I can do that kind of stuff. Me and Bo have chatted. It’s just going to be a lot of reading off each other and playing on instincts.”
Horvat had 31 goals and 23 assists in 49 games for the Canucks. He nearly had his first for the Islanders, deflecting defenseman Noah Dobson’s shot off the crossbar at 3:22 of the third period.
Barzal has 13 goals and 31 assists in 52 games. Naturally, coach Lane Lambert wasted little time seeing if the two are compatible.
“I don’t think there’s going to be too much shifting around,” Lambert said. “We have a pretty good idea of where everyone is to be slotted right now and we’ll adjust from there.”
Barzal, who snapped a 10-game goal drought in a 2-1 overtime win over Vegas on Jan. 28 that preceded the eight-day vacation, made it 2-0 at 8:18 of the second period by deflecting Dobson’s feed.
It marked Dobson’s 100th career point while Brock Nelson, with the secondary assist, extended his point streak to seven games.
The Flyers pulled within 2-1 at 10:39 of the second as Nicolas Deslauriers tipped defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s blast from the right point.
Horvat’s line started the game, marking Barzal’s first start at wing of the season, and the Islanders came out strong, taking eight of the first nine shots. Horvat took his first shot on net at 10:53 as Hart gobbled up his hard wrister from the slot. At 13:41, Barzal’s behind-the back feed found Horvat in the slot, with Hart getting a shoulder on that hard wrist shot.
Horvat nearly got to the crease to pounce on the rebound of Nelson’s initial shot on the Islanders’ second power play. But that man advantage did lead to Kyle Palmieri’s goal from the left circle for a 1-0 lead at 17:07 off Bailey’s feed.
It was Bailey’s first point in six games while Palmieri extended his point streak to five games since returning from an upper-body injury. The Islanders were 0-for-25 on the power play over their previous 10 games and 3-for-64 in their previous 24.
