Islanders captain Bo Horvat under evaluation after 'cheap shot' from Blackhawks' Frank Nazar

Islanders captain Bo Horvat is under evaluation after an illegal hit from Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar, head coach Peter DeBoer told the media after Thursday’s game.

The 31-year-old center took the hit after sending the puck down the ice for an empty net goal — his second score of the night — which solidified New York’s 4-1 win over Chicago.

As Horvat launched the shot from his stick, Nazar skated toward Horvat, driving his shoulder into Horvat’s head and sending him twisting through the air. He landed on his side and was slow to get up, but made it off the ice on his own.

Nazar was dealt a major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.

Bo Horvat scores on an empty netter and gets a cheap shot from Frank Nazar in the process https://t.co/cfphxnyjcg

— SNY Islanders (@SNY_Islanders) October 9, 2026

“You don’t like that hit, especially at that time in the game and who it’s on,” head coach Peter DeBoer said after the game. “I think they got the call right, and we’ll see, but you don’t like to see that on anybody.”

Immediately following the check, teammates Logan Stanley, Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau went to bat for their captain, starting a brawl with the Blackhawks contingent.

“That’s our captain. That’s our leader. You know, it doesn’t matter who it is, you come after one of us, you gotta come after all of us,” Isles defender Logan Stanley said after the game. “Great job by everybody sticking up for him. That’s what good teams do.”