Introduction to the Game
The New York Islanders were looking to secure their first win of the season, and it was Bo Horvat who led the charge with a hat trick, delivering a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at UBS Arena.
Oct 16, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Game-Changing Moment
ELMONT, NY — Bo Horvat recorded a hat trick, but it was his second goal of the night that was the game-winner with 4:46 remaining, lifting the Islanders to their first win of the season. With it, the Islanders (1-3-0) avoid dubious history as they had never started a season 0-4-0 in their previous 53 years — and they won’t this year.
Reaction from the Team
“You never just want the losses to start piling up,” Horvat said. “Especially against a team like that with a lot of offense and a lot of good hockey players, it definitely felt great. I think that gives our group a lot of confidence in here.” After taking a high stick that sent Oilers forward Trent Frederic to the penalty box with 4:53 to go, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer extended his point streak to four straight games to start his career with the secondary assist on Horvat’s game-winner.
The Play that Led to the Win
From the point, he fed Mathew Barzal at the left circle, who centered it toward the mid-slot where Horvat finished. He capped off his hat trick — the second of his career and first since 2019 — with an empty-netter with 8.1 seconds to go. “I’ve definitely had a lot of two-goal games, so to finally get a hat trick again, that felt good,” Horvat said.
Performance of Other Players
Barzal had two points on the night, which featured his first goal of the season to open the game, while the 18-year-old Schaefer became the youngest player in NHL history to start his career with a four-game point streak. “I assume he must be feeling more and more comfortable on the ice,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. “It’s impressive for a player of that age the way he’s performing.”
The Mindset of the Young Player
“It really doesn’t matter at the end of the day how many points you have or whatever,” Schaefer added. “I just want to win, and I just want to be there for the group. I want them to trust me. I want them to rely on me in all situations.” The Oilers scored two unanswered goals through Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to cancel out Barzal’s tally, but Horvat netted a short-handed, tying goal late in the second period that ultimately forced overtime.
Goalie Performance
David Rittich, Iilya Sorokin’s backup making his Islanders debut, made 32 saves while Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner stopped 24 of his own. “It feels obviously great,” Rittich said of his first start and win as an Islander. “We won a tough game and showed that even though we didn’t get a result in the first three games, we showed that we never gave up, we’ll never quit. We fought til the end.”
Conclusion
The Islanders’ first win of the season is a significant morale booster, especially given the impressive performance of Bo Horvat and the team’s determination to avoid a dubious start to the season. With this win, the Islanders look forward to building momentum and improving their standing in the league.
FAQs
- Q: Who was the star player of the game?
- A: Bo Horvat, with his hat trick, was the standout player of the game.
- Q: What was significant about Matthew Schaefer’s performance?
- A: Matthew Schaefer became the youngest player in NHL history to start his career with a four-game point streak.
- Q: Who made his Islanders debut as a goalie?
- A: David Rittich made his debut and secured his first win as an Islander.
- Q: What was the final score of the game?
- A: The New York Islanders won 4-2 against the Edmonton Oilers.
