Islanders’ Bo Horvat fined for unsportsmanlike conduct against Sharks

A veteran player is paying up for a rather humorous moment.

On Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat has been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct involving the San Jose Sharks.

The incident in question occurred during Saturday night’s game between the two teams. At the end of a scrum in front of the Sharks’ bench, Horvat flicked the visor of San Jose forward William Eklund. There was no penalty called on the play, though it seemed more of an annoying action with no intent to injure. However, since the play involved a player on the ice engaging someone on the bench, the Department of Player Safety stepped in.

Horvat would get the last laugh, as he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Isles a 2-1 win.

The fine goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

In his 12 seasons in the NHL, Horvat has never faced supplemental discipline. The London, Ont. native has played a firm, but fair game for his entire career, never amassing over 40 penalty minutes in a season.

In 50 games this year, Horvat has scored 27 goals and 17 assists for 44 points, a little off the pace that led to a career-high 68 points on Long Island during the 2023-24 campaign. Yet, it’s enough to place him third on the Isles in scoring, trailing only Mathew Barzal and rookie Matthew Schaefer.

Horvat has appeared in 863 regular-season games in his NHL career, spending over eight years with the Vancouver Canucks, scoring 296 goals and 309 assists for 605 points. In 34 Stanley Cup Playoff games, the 30-year-old has notched 21 points as well.

The Islanders (36-23-5) are second in the Metropolitan Division, nine points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for first place.