Bo Horvat laying roots of trademark leadership within Islanders’ foundation: ‘Accountability is such a big thing’

Nov 15, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat (14) prepares for a face off against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

ONLY IN AMNEWYORK

ELMONT, N.Y. — Bo Horvat hates making excuses, so when things go wrong, he’ll more often than not tell it like it is. 

With the Islanders struggling to close out games in the third period — blowing 10 leads in the final 20 minutes and losing five of those games this season — Horvat told it like it was after his team blew a 4-1 third-period lead to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday before losing in overtime, 5-4.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, maybe a little bit,” he said, while some of his other teammates danced around the sort of mental hurdles such struggles entail. “It’s sad to say and it’s happened so many times this year where it’s hard not to think about when you’re going out there again, that it’s gonna happen again.”

“At the end of the game when we don’t win or we don’t close out games, that’s on us,” Horvat told amNewYork. “I just try to speak honestly and I try to be honest with myself, too, about my game. I think that’s the best way to approach it.

“Nobody is a harder critic on me, than me… and as a team, I’m just speaking personally, right? Some people can see it completely different but I try to be honest with myself and with the team. Accountability is such a big thing, I think.”

The 28-year-old center, who was acquired by the Islanders in January, has already become an invaluable extension of the franchise’s veteran leadership within the locker room thanks to an ability to speak frankly, but to do so constructively. 

“He’s a guy who’s been in this…