Islanders leave injured Bo Horvat in New York for start of road trip

The New York Islanders made a strategic decision to leave Bo Horvat behind in New York while they embarked on a seven-game road trip that kicked off in Nashville. General Manager Mathieu Darche explained that this move was to provide Horvat with easier access to treatment for his lower-body injury. However, Darche emphasized that this was not a setback for Horvat and that there is still a possibility for him to join the team at some point during the trip or even make a comeback before the Olympic break.

Darche expressed optimism about Horvat’s recovery timeline, stating that he expects the centerman to return well before the Olympic break and ideally by the end of the road trip. The team is focused on ensuring that Horvat fully recovers without any setbacks, highlighting the importance of handling his injury with caution.

If Horvat does rejoin the Islanders during the trip, Darche indicated that it would likely be in the latter half of the journey. The current injury Horvat is dealing with appears to be similar, albeit not directly linked, to the previous issue that sidelined him for five games in December. Darche noted that the team’s medical staff believes the injury would have occurred regardless, emphasizing that Horvat did not rush his return to the ice.

In other injury updates, defenseman Isaiah George is set to return to play after dealing with a lower-body issue in Bridgeport. Alexander Romanov, who is recovering from a right shoulder injury, has yet to resume skating on his own. However, Darche mentioned that Romanov’s progress is promising, leaving open the possibility of his return for a potential playoff push.

The status of goaltender Semyon Varlamov remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Darche stated that Varlamov’s situation is not currently factored into the team’s goaltending plans, with the focus on the present and utilizing David Rittich in the net. Discussions regarding contract extensions for Rittich, Anders Lee, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau have not yet begun, despite Rittich receiving the start in net against the Predators.

Coach Patrick Roy explained the decision to start Rittich over Ilya Sorokin, who recently returned from injury with an impressive 44-save shutout. The Islanders opted to ease Sorokin back into action rather than overloading him right away. As the team navigates through the challenges of injuries and roster decisions, they remain focused on maintaining their competitive edge and pushing towards their goals for the season. There are many reasons for people to travel to different places. Some may travel for leisure, while others may travel for work or to visit family and friends. Whatever the reason may be, one thing is for sure – travel broadens the mind and opens up a whole new world of experiences.

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