Horvat: Isles have to start winning 'if we want everybody to stay'

New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat knows his team isn't doing enough to give general manager Lou Lamoriello a convincing reason to keep the band together leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.

"We have to start winning hockey games if we want everybody to stay, right?" he said after his team's 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, per News 12 New York's Rob Taub. "It's on us at the end of the day to do what we can in here, on the ice and in the room, to gather this team and push for a playoff spot.

"I know it's not going to be easy, but I mean, if there's any group that's gonna do it, we're pretty relentless in here. I definitely have confidence that we can pull through."

Thursday's defeat was New York's second straight loss after the team rattled off three consecutive wins against the Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Utah Hockey Club.

The Islanders now sit in last place in the Metropolitan Division with a 17-20-7 record. They're eight points behind the Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but New York has two games in hand.

Though the Isles haven't made any moves yet, Brock Nelson is emerging as a top trade target for contenders in need of an effective center. The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild reportedly have their eyes on the veteran forward, who can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Lamoriello expressed his confidence in his team last Thursday and didn't seem to have much of an appetite for moving Nelson and fellow pending UFA Kyle Palmieri at the time.

"First of all, it's not even a thought in my mind right now," Lamoriello said, per Newsday's Andrew Gross. "Where we are in the season and where we are in the standings where everything is in reach, that's the focus. The focus is on who we are here right now and not hypothetically, if this, if that. I'm just not from that school."

He added: "It's all in our hands. I feel good about this team. I feel good about this coaching staff. I’ll take full responsibility for both groups in where we stand."

Next up for the Islanders is a showing against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.