New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat is set to make his return to the lineup on Saturday after missing just over two weeks with a lower-body injury, per multiple reports.
Horvat, who is one of the many hopefuls to crack Team Canada’s roster at the Olympics in Milan in February, suffered the injury in the first period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 11.
Horvat, 30, has 19 goals and 31 points in 32 games this season. The native of London, Ont. has played in 81 games each of the last two seasons, totaling 61 goals and 125 points over that span.
Horvat received an invite to preliminary camps for Canada’s Olympic team in the off-season, and his strong play this season put him firmly in the mix for the final roster alongside rookie defenceman and teammate Matthew Schaefer.
The deadline to submit Olympic rosters is on Dec. 31, and the late addition of Horvat back to the Islanders lineup will give Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong another name to consider when cutting down the list to a final 25 players.
The last time Horvat suited up for Team Canada in international competition was as a member of the 2014 World Juniors team, where he chipped in a goal and three points in helping Canada to a fourth-place finish.
In his 12-year NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks and Islanders, Horvat has 288 goals and 592 points.