Mar 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) skates against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel (6) and center Sam Lafferty (24) during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
ELMONT, NY — Bo Horvat was in his backyard with his wife and children on Sunday morning, enjoying their annual Easter egg hunt, which this year just so happened to fall on the New York Islanders star forward’s 31st birthday.
Then his phone began blowing up.
Head coach Patrick Roy had been fired following a critical four-game losing streak that sank the Islanders out of a playoff spot with four games left to play in the regular season. In comes Pete DeBoer, the veteran bench boss who has recently led the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars to five of the last six Western Conference finals.
“It’s not very normal in [the timing] sense, for sure,” Horvat admitted. “It’s a bit of a wake-up call for us, a little bit of a reality check that we’re not doing the right things, and it’s not good enough right now. We have to step up, take a long look in the mirror, and come to play.”
Pete DeBoer Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Islanders are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, and entering Tuesday’s slate of games around the league, sit one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot and the Philadelphia Flyers for third place and an automatic playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams have played one fewer game than New York’s 78.
The writing was on the wall following Friday night’s loss to the Flyers when Roy shouldered some of the blame for not having his team ready — a trend that had become increasingly concerning over the last two weeks and forced them to play from behind more often than not.
Forward Emil Heineman admitted that “we tightened up a bit” in recent weeks, with a surprising playoff berth getting closer and closer by the day.
“We wanted it that much, and it’s within reach,” Heineman told amNewYork. “It’s a trying period. Overall, we all want it the same, and I guess this will be a little bit of a spark for us, and I’m looking forward to getting a few days of practice and heading over to the games.”
Emil Heineman Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
“Pressure like that can get to you for sure,” Horvat added. “It’s tight games coming down the stretch. The race is so tight to get into the playoffs, and every little play, every little thing you do out there matters.
“It’s always in the back of your mind where we are in the standings and people catching us. And I think we just got to go out there and have fun again and play loose and enjoy coming to the rink and playing the game that we love.”
The hope is that DeBoer can loosen things up in the locker room, with an 18-year head-coaching resume that has included nine playoff berths in the last 11 years and a pair of Stanley Cup Final appearances with the New Jersey Devils (2012) and San Jose Sharks (2016).
“He knows what it takes,” Horvat said. “He knows what makes a successful team and a team that can make the playoffs. I think he can bring that wisdom and that presence in our room that can push us over the edge… If you were to tell us at the beginning of September that we’re fighting for a playoff spot right now, I think we would all take it. So we’re in a good spot. We’re still fighting for a spot, and you got to enjoy the moment.”
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