ELMONT, NY — On a night marked by the loss of their top goal-scorer, Bo Horvat, due to a leg injury, the New York Islanders triumphed over the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Thursday night at UBS Arena. Anders Lee contributed two goals, and rookie defenseman Travis Mitchell scored his first career goal.
With this victory, the Islanders (18-11-3, 39 points) have won five of their last six games, positioning themselves just one point away from the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
They achieved this against a Ducks team leading the Pacific Division.
The game began with an exciting first period, laying the groundwork for a night filled with milestones.
The Islanders struck early with Mitchell scoring his first NHL goal, assisted by Scott Mayfield and Anthony Duclair. This marked a special moment for Mitchell, eager to make his mark in the league.
“It’s pretty unbelievable to actually score a goal in the NHL,” Mitchell said. “You dream of it as a kid playing basement hockey… So then to actually kind of turn that into a reality is pretty cool.”
Soon after, the Islanders capitalized on a power play opportunity after Ryan Strome of Anaheim was penalized for high-sticking. Lee scored his first goal of the night, his 296th career goal, making him the fifth-highest goal scorer in Islanders’ history, surpassing Brock Nelson. Lee’s achievement demonstrated his consistent performance and solidified his place among the Isles’ greats.
“I’m sure he’ll see it, but it’s been special to share that with him for a little bit,” Lee joked about surpassing Nelson. “Most of those goals we both scored together for a very long time.”
Lee scored again on the power play, marking his 297th career goal, a significant achievement for the captain on a successful night.
This was the Islanders’ first game with multiple power play goals since facing the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 21. They ended a 24-game stretch without scoring more than one power-play goal in a game.
Bo Horvat’s Night Cut Short
Horvat exited the game in the second period with a lower-body injury after tangling skates with Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson. He left for evaluation following the incident, which seemed to stress his ankle.
Horvat’s absence was notable, as he has played a crucial role for the Islanders this season. His departure shifted the lineup and increased the responsibility on players like Mathew Barzal and Lee to sustain the Islanders’ offensive efforts.
Head Coach Patrick Roy commented: “When you lose a player like Bo, you don’t try and replace him, because it’s impossible.”
Later in the third period, Simon Holmstrom scored the Islanders’ fourth goal, making it 4-2.
“Simon, when he plays with that confidence, the goal that he scored and the plays that he made… I think that’s important to him, and I thought he was confident tonight.”
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