MILAN — This is what Bo Horvat dreamed of, what he pushed himself for, why he wanted to be here in Italy representing his country so badly.
As he went through the mixed zone following Team Canada’s 5-0 win over the Czechs on Thursday, Horvat was still wrapping his head around what had happened at 17:26 of the second period, when the puck found him in alone on the rush.
Horvat, facing a wall of Czech flags draped over every drapeable surface there was in the place, went to his backhand.
He poked the puck in between Lukas Dostal’s legs, starting the rout by turning a 2-0 lead to 3-0.
“Pretty special moment,” he said. “Great play by [Brad Marchand] and [Brandon Hagel] to get that up. Got through the middle with some nice speed, it caught the defenseman flat-footed. Feels nice to get the win behind it.”
Bo Horvat, Olympic goal scorer for Canada.
“It’s pretty surreal. Feels amazing,” he said, his cheek stitched up from taking a stick to the face at the end of the first period. “Feels even better to get the win behind it. Just something you dream of as a little kid. To be here, to be a part of it, it’s awesome.”
Bo Horvat scores a goal for Team Canada during its Feb. 12 win over Czechia. REUTERS
Centering the fourth line, playing on the second power play unit and on the penalty kill, Horvat finished with just 9:54 of ice time.
Since his rookie year in the NHL, he’s played that little in a game just twice.
Don’t let that fool you into thinking he doesn’t have a key role to play for Team Canada.
The Canadians needed their penalty kill just once Thursday, and there weren’t many defensive-zone draws where they absolutely needed a win given the game was out of hand by the second intermission.
If and when those moments come, Horvat will have a huge role to play.
“He’s really responsible,” Sidney Crosby said. “He’s good on both sides of the puck. You see he gets an opening like that, he’s got probably some underrated speed there. He’s a guy that can create something pretty quickly offensively as well.”
Bo Horvat celebrates after scoring during Team Canada’s win over Czechia on Feb. 12. REUTERS
Forget the minutes.
He was happier after this one than he usually is after playing 25 minutes and scoring in a regular-season game.
“Just to be a part of it, I feel fortunate to be here,” Horvat said. “And to be playing and to get this opportunity. Just trying to make the most of it all.”
Defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game in the second period and did not return.
Jon Cooper did not have an update on his status after the game.