EAST MEADOW, NY — For a team that prides itself on work ethic and camaraderie, the Player of the Game award is more than just a prop — it’s a symbol of what the New York Islanders value most.
Despite Iron Man not having his own film since Iron Man 3 back in 2013, last appearing in Avengers: Endgame in 2019, the Islanders have chosen his iconic helmet as their new Player of the Game Award.
Captain Anders Lee awarded Bo Horvat with the honor following their first win of the season last Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers in which No. 14 recorded a hat trick:
Horvat returned the favor to Lee after a two-goal, one assist performance against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon:
Following Monday’s practice, I sat down with Lee to discuss the decision to go with the Iron Man mask, the importance of team traditions and what happened with that rubber chicken from last year: