John Tavares: A Young Star

John Tavares is a rising star in the NHL.  Here's my podcast about it. 

Islanders Finally Beat Toronto

Islanders celebrate goal in Toronto (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images)

          After losing their previous three contests against the Maple Leafs, the Islanders finally broke through and got a commanding 5-2 victory in Toronto.
          With the win the Isles moved out of last place in the conference, and nine points behind the eighth place Washington Capitals.  
          From the start it was clear the Islanders were playing with a sense of urgency.  They were out-skating, out-hitting, and out-shooting the Leafs.  By the end of the game, the Islanders had out-shot the Leafs, 34-14.  It was a season low for shots given up by the Isles.
          Even though the Islanders played like the better team, the Leafs struck first, at the 10:24 mark of the frame.  Taking advantage of the only time the Isles defense broke down, the Leafs took an early 1-0 lead.  Right winger Phil Kessel took a pass from center Tyler Bozak, and was left all alone.  He buried a wrist shot past the sprawling Islander goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, for his thirty-sixth of the season.  The Islanders would answer back just five minutes later, at the 15:34 mark of the frame.  Centers Josh Bailey and John Tavares skated on a two on one and worked it to perfection.  Tavares would skate with the puck into the Leafs zone, and made a beautiful cross ice pass to Bailey, who put the puck past the Toronto goalie, James Reimer.  The goal was Bailey's eleventh of the year.  
          Toronto would take their second lead of the game at the 4:12 mark of the second period.  Center Matthew Lombardi would take the puck from behind the net, come out to the front and slid a backhander under the pads of Nabokov.  The goal was Lombardi's eighth of the year.  The Islanders would answer back later in the frame, at the 13:08 mark.  The line of left winger David Ullstrom, center Casey Cizikas, and right winger Michael Grabner, worked hard and got rewarded with a goal.  Cizikas would poke the puck away from a Toronto player, which would land on Grabner's stick, who would slide a backhander cross ice to Ullstrom who would tap the puck past Reimer.  The goal was Ullstrom's third of the year. 
          The Islanders would run away with the game late in the third.  It started at the 13:56 mark, when left winger Matt Moulson would get a rebound and bury it by Reimer, to make it 3-2 Isles.  Under two minutes later, right winger PA Parenteau would take advantage of a breakaway he skated on, by sliding one by the right pad of Reimer, to make it 4-2.  The goal was Parenteau's sixteenth of the year.  The Isles would seal it with an empty net goal by Moulson at the 18:25 mark.  The goals were Moulson's thirty-first and thirty-second.  He now sits ahead of Tavares for the team lead in goals.  
          The Isles will play their third game of a five-game road trip, when they visit Tampa, to play the Lightning.  Puck drop is 7 PM.    

Islanders late rally not enough. Lose 3-2 to rival Flyers.

#91 John Tavares tries to squeeze through Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The New York Islanders made a furious push in the final six minutes of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers, but fell short, losing 3-2, Thursday night.
          With the loss the Islanders fell into last place in the conference, holding a record of 28-32-11.  Their sixty-seven points is eleven behind the eighth place Washington Capitals.  
          The first forty minutes of the game belonged fully to the Flyers.  They took their first lead of the game at the 8:41 mark of the first.  Center Zac Rinaldo raced to the puck in the corner and flung one towards Isles goalie, Evgeni Nabokov.  The puck bounced off the back of Nabokov's right pad and in, to give the Flyers the early 1-0 lead.  The goal was Rinaldo's second of the season.  About five minutes later, at the 13:26 mark, right winger Claude Giroux was able to bury a one timer over the right leg of Nabokov, to give the Flyers the 2-0 advantage.  The goal was Giroux's twenty-sixth of the year.  
          The second period did not go much better for the Isles.  The Flyers would expand their lead at the 7:02 mark of the frame.  Left winger Scott Hartnell was led on a breakaway by his teammate, defenseman Kimmo Timonen.  Hartnell would capitalize on his opportunity and bury a wrist shot over the glove of Nabokov, to make it 3-0.  The goal was Hartnell's thirty-third of the year.  
          The Islanders would come out looking like a different team in the third.  They got more shots towards the net, and prevented the Flyers from getting anything difficult shots through to Nabokov.  The Isles would finally break through at the 13:30 mark, when defenseman Mark Streit fired a hard slap pass to right winger, Michael Grabner, who tipped it by Bryzgalov, to make it 3-1.  The goal was Grabner's sixteenth of the year.  Under a minute later, at the 14:05 mark, the Islanders would strike again.  Mark Streit would hold onto the puck and make a bevy of moves to get by three Flyer players, before putting the puck in front of the net, where center John Tavares would bang it home, to make it 3-2.  The goal was Tavares' team leading thirty-first of the year.  However, the Isles' final push in the last minute was not enough as the Flyers would hang onto the lead and get the win.  
          The Isles have only eleven games left this year, and will do everything they can to get as many of the twenty-two remaining points they can.
          Their journey starts in Montreal, against the Canadiens, Saturday night.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.                  

Islanders Lose Heartbreaker to Capitals....agian

Alexander Ovechkin celebrates after his game-tying goal (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

          On a night where everything seemed to be going the Islanders way, the Capitals emerged as the victor, beating the Isles 5-4.
          The Isles had friendly bounces going their way, a working power play, a pair of three-goal leads and even a shootout, but came out of the game with a single point.  
          The loss is the Islanders fourth one in a row, as their chance for making the playoffs, seems to slipping out of their grasp.  The Islanders now sit at 28-31-11 with sixty-seven points.  That's now eleven points behind the eighth place Capitals.  Each team has twelve games left to play.
          The first period was all Islanders.  They outshot the Capitals 10-4, and outscored them 2-0.  It started at the 8:54 mark of the period when left winger Matt Moulson scored one of the wackiest goals, in all of hockey, this year.  Moulson took a hard slap shot that went high off the glass behind the net.  Washington goalie, Michal Neuvirth, turned around and looked behind the net, but had no idea where it was.  Suddenly the puck bounced off his stomach and into the net, to give the Isles an early 1-0 lead.  The goal was Moulson's thirtieth of the year.  The Islanders would add to their lead near the end of the period.  While on the powerplay, at the 19:39 mark, defenseman Travis Hamonic took the puck down low and threw towards the front of the net.  The puck then ricocheted off a Capitals player's skate and in.  The goal was Hamonic's second of the year.  
          The second period would see the Islanders extend their lead even more.  On the powerplay again, at the 9:05 mark, center John Tavares would get a rebound, kick it to his stick, and bang it home, to give the Islanders a 3-0 lead.  Just under thirty seconds later, at the 9:33 mark, right winger Mike Knuble would tip a shot past, Isles goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, to trim the Isles' lead to 3-1.  The Islanders would get their momentum back at the 11:44 mark, when Tavares would bury a wrist shot over the glove of Neuvirth, for his second of the game, which gave the Isles a 4-1 lead.  The goals were Tavares' twenty-ninth and thirtieth.  He is now tied with his line mate, Matt Moulson, as the team leader in goals.  With under a minute left in the period, at the 19:07 mark, left winger Alexander Ovechkin would bury a rebound left by Nabokov, to make it 4-2 going into the third.  
          Under two minutes into the third the Capitals would trim the lead again.  At the 1:51 mark, defenseman Dmitry Orlov would bury a wrist shot over the blocker of Nabokov, to make it 4-3 Isles.  Then at the 10:51 mark the Capitals' comeback would be complete.  Ovechkin would be stopped on a one-timer by Nabokov, but he couldn't hold onto the puck and Ovechkin would bury his own rebound to tie the game at 4, and send this one into overtime.  
         With both teams securing a point, the overtime saw nobody score and the game went to a shootout.  The Islanders sent out center Frans Nielsen, Tavares, and Moulson.  The Capitals countered with left winger Alexander Semin, Ovechkin, and Orlov.  Nielsen was first to shoot, and he clanked his famous backhander off the post.  Trying to give the Capitals the advantage Semin came in fast, but had the puck poked away from him by the stick of Nabokov.  Tavares would give the Isles the advantage as he was able to bury his wrist shot under the glove of Neuvirth, to give the Isles a 1-0 lead.  Ovechkin would tie the shootout, burying a backhander by Nabokov, to make it 1-1.  Next up was Moulson, who tried to go over the blocker of Neuvirth, but he was up to the challenge, stopping him and giving the Capitals a chance to win it.  With a chance to win it, Orlov skated towards Nabokov, but he lost control of the puck and never got a shot off.  With the shootout going into sudden death, Islander coach Jack Capuano sent out his captain, defenseman Mark Streit.  Streit tried to go five hole, but Neuvirth closed his pads in time and stopped him.  The Capitals then sent out center Matt Hendricks to face Nabokov.  Hendricks put on a ton of moves and fooled Nabokov enough to get one by him and give the Capitals the win.  
          With their playoff hopes slipping a way, the Islanders will try to end their losing streak on Thursday night, when they play host to the Philadelphia Flyers.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.             

Islanders Edged by Rival Rangers

Islanders #41 David Ullstrom drives on Rangers #41 Stu Bickel (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)

          For the second straight game the Islanders' opponent came from behind and delivered a heartbreaking loss.  With just six seconds left in overtime until a shootout, the Rangers scored a power play goal, lifting them over the Isles 4-3.
          Since the game did go into overtime, the Islanders did get a point. However, that is not their desired outcome as they hope to make a final playoff push.  With the point the Islanders now have 66 on the season.  That is ten points behind the eighth place Washington Capitals.
          The first period saw the two teams exchange goals.  The Islanders took the first lead of the game, at the 11:15 mark, when center John Tavares had the puck bounce off his leg and past Rangers goalie, Henrik Lundqvist.  The goal was Tavares' twenty-eighth of the year.  The Rangers would answer back at the 18:47 mark, when center Brad Richards took the puck from behind his own net, skated the length of the ice, and then fired a wrist shot over the glove of goalie Evgeni Nabokov, to tie the game.
          The second period saw the Islanders take their second lead of the game.  At the 7:44 mark, with the Islanders on the power play, defenseman Mark Striet fired a slap shot that went wide and off the glass.  The puck then landed on the stick of left winger Matt Moulson who banked one off of Lundqvist skate and in.  The goal was Moulson's team-leading twenty-ninth of the year.  The Rangers would answer back at the 16:03 mark when Richards would get his second goal by firing a slap shot by Nabokov's blocker, to tie the game.  The goals were Richards' twentieth, and twenty-first.  The Islanders would get a huge momentum boost at the end of the frame.  With his penalty ending defenseman Andrew MacDonald would take a pass from Tavares and go on a breakaway.  MacDonald would capitalize on his chance by burying a wrist shot in the top left corner to give the Islanders the lead going into the third.  The goal was MacDonald's fifth and his second in three games.  
          The third period would see the Rangers score the only goal.  At the 3:29 mark center Brian Boyle would tip a shot by Nabokov, to tie the game.  The goal was Boyle's sixth of the year.  No goals were scored for the rest of the frame and the game went into overtime.
          In the overtime frame the Islanders' defenseman Travis Hamonic would take a costly tripping penalty, which would give the Rangers the four on three power play.  On the ensuing power play at the 4:54 mark of overtime, Rangers right winger Marian Gaborik would bury a wrist shot over the shoulder of Nabokov to seal the win for the Rangers.  The goal was Gaborik's thirty-third of the year.
          With the loss the Islanders record fell to 28-31-10, giving them 66 points on the year.  
          The Islanders will now travel home for a huge meeting with the eighth place Washington Capitals, on Tuesday night.  The puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.    

Devils Deliver Knockout Punch in Round 3 of Trilogy

Devils celebrate game winning goal (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          With under two minutes to play, in a span of fourteen seconds, the Islanders relinquished the lead they got late in the game, and lost 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils, Saturday night.
          The Islanders played a solid 58 minutes of hockey, and shutout the Devils in that time.  However, in the final two minutes the Isles' hearts were ripped out when two quick goals gave the Devils the lead, and eventually the win.
          With the loss the Islanders fell to 28-31-9 on the year.  Their 65 points is nine behind the eighth place Washington Capitals.  Their road to the playoffs has now become much more difficult.
          All the goal scoring was done in the third, but that doesn't mean the first two periods were not entertaining.  The Islanders started their rookie goalie Anders Nilsson in net.  It was Nilsson's second start in three games.  His last start came against these same Devils last Sunday, and in that game he posted his first career win and first career shutout.  The Devils countered with their backup goaltender Johan Hedberg.  
          Both goaltenders held their own as they each stopped all shots thrown at them in each of the first two periods.  The Islanders were out shot by the Devils in the first two periods 21-16.  
          The third period saw all the action.  It started at the 6:46 mark when Isles' center John Tavares would give the Islanders the first lead.  Tavares took a beautiful pass from right winger PA Parenteau and buried a one-timer over the shoulder of Hedberg.  The goal was Tavares' twenty-seventh of the year.  The Islanders held the lead for most of the period as the Devils could not find a way to get one through Nilsson.  However, at the 18:21 mark, right winger David Clarkson fired a wrist shot that found its way through the pads of Nilsson, to tie the game at one.  It was Clarkson's twenty-eighth goal of the year.  Just fourteen seconds later at the 18:35 mark the Devils would deliver the decisive blow.  With Parenteau in the penalty box, defenseman Marek Zidlicky would bury a slap shot by Nilsson, to make it 2-1.  The goal was Zidlicky's first of the year, and his first point since being traded to the Devils at the trading deadline.  
          The loss was very hard to swallow by the Isles but they must put it past them and focus on the future.  They sit nine points out of a playoff spot, and have fourteen games left to play.   
          Their final push starts tonight at the Madison Square Garden where the battle of New York will take place, against the Rangers. Puck drop is 7 PM.  

Islanders Win Battle in Beantown

Islander celebrate one of three goals (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The Islanders got two much needed points, beating the Boston Bruins 3-2.   
          Isles goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was named the first star of the game, and he earned it.  He made thirty-two saves on thirty-four shots, none better than his last one.  With less than twenty seconds left, Bruins left winger Milan Lucic had a point blank shot at an empty net.  Nabokov stuck out his arm and the paddle of his stick saved the game for the Isles.  
          The first period saw a pair of goals, one for each team.  It started at the 15:10 mark when Lucic opened the scoring by burying a shot over the shoulder of Nabokov.  It was Lucic's twenty-second of the year.  Just two minutes later the Islanders would answer back.  Islanders' winger Josh Bailey would take a cross-ice feed from center Frans Nielsen, and bury it under the pads of Bruins goaltender, Tukka Rask.  The goal was Bailey's tenth of the year, and his fourth in his last three games. 
          The Bruins' Rask would not last long in the second period.  With eleven minutes left in the second period, Rask suffered an apparent leg injury, and was replaced by Tim Thomas.  It would only take the Islanders five minutes, after Thomas entered, to find the back of the net.  On the power play center John Tavares would find left winger Matt Moulson, who would bury one past the right pad of Thomas, to make it 2-1.  It was Moulson's team leading twenty-eighth goal.  
          The third period would see the Bruins bounce back and tie the game.  Off of a face off Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara passed one off the boards to center Tyler Seguin, which lead him on a breakaway.  Seguin would capitalize by burying a backhander over the blocker of Nabokov to tie it 2-2.  It was Seguin's twenty-second.  The Islanders third goal would be a result of a very confusing play.
          With five minutes left the Bruins believed they should have been called for icing, but the ref never made the call.  He seemed to believe that the Islanders never touched it before the Bruins, which negated the icing and allowed play to go on.
          With some of the Bruins standing around confused, Moulson would carry the puck up with Tavares on his side.  When Moulson skated into the Bruins zone he fired a slap shot that was tipped in by Tavares and gave the Islanders the 3-2 lead.  It was Tavares' twenty-sixth goal of the year.  Nabokov would hold off a late fury of shots in the last minute, and seal the win for the Isles. 
          The Islanders now have 63 points, which is seven points behind eighth place Winnipeg.  The Isles have seventeen games left to play, while Winnipeg has sixteen.  
          The Islanders now start a stretch of three straight games against the rival Devils.  Two will be played at the Coliseum, and one at the Prudential Center, in Newark.  
          The games start today on the Island.  Puck drop is scheduled for 3 PM.    

Islanders Overwhelmed in Ottawa

Ottawa celebrates after one of their five goals (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The Islanders lost ground in the playoff race, after a crushing 5-2 loss in Ottawa, Sunday night.  
          The Islanders now have a record of 26-28-8 with sixty points.  That's eight points behind the eighth place Winnipeg Jets.
          The Islanders got off to a fast start in this one, scoring just forty-nine seconds into the game.  John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau had a two on one and Tavares was able to fire a wrist shot through the pads of Ottawa goalie, Robin Lehner.  It was Tavares' twenty-fifth goal of the season.  
          The second period saw Ottawa come out looking like a completely different team than in the first.  They controlled much of the play and kept the Islanders in their own zone for most of the period.  The Islanders downfall came when they took two penalties, just five minutes apart from each other.  Ottawa was able to capitalize on both of the opportunities the Isles gave them.  
          David Ullstrom would take a high sticking penalty at the 10:42 mark.  On the ensuing power play Milan Michalek was able to bury a backhander five hole on Evgeni Nabokov, for his twenty-eighth on the year.  Just four minutes and twenty-two seconds later PA Parenteau would take a tripping penalty.  Jason Spezza would capitalize on the power play, blasting a slap shot over the left shoulder of Nabokov, to make it 2-1.  It was Spezza's twenty-eighth as well.  
          The third was much of the same for the Islanders.  Ottawa seemed to have a step on them everywhere on the ice.  And it showed when at the 5:13 mark of the frame, Mike Mottau threw a blind pass to Frans Nielsen, which was taken by Ottawa's Chris Neil.  Neil would leave it behind for teammate Jim O'Brien who wristed a shot over the glove of Nabokov to make it 3-1.  The Islanders would regain a little confidence when at the 9:04 mark PA Parenteau was able to get one by the pads of Lehner to bring the Islanders back to within a goal.  The hope was short lived, because just four minutes later Neil was able to tip one out of mid-air by Nabokov, increasing Ottawa's lead once again.  Ottawa would ice the game when with just two minutes left Kyle Turris would hit the empty net and give Ottawa the 5-2 victory.
          This was the first of a four game road trip for the Isles.  The next stop on their trip is a visit to the Capital, for a contest against Washington.  Puck drop is 7PM.         

Islanders Weather the Storm, Defeat Hurricanes

Islanders celebrate after #21 Kyle Okposo's goal (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

          John Tavares seems to like playing the Carolina Hurricanes.  In the three previous games against them, Tavares has tallied 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists).  He added three more points, with 2 goals and an assist, in the Islanders 4-3 win Saturday night at the Coliseum.
          The Islanders now have a record of 25-25-8 and have 58 points.  They currently sit 6 points behind the 8th place Toronto Maple Leafs.  
          Recent call up Kevin Poulin started in net for the Islanders, while Evgeni Nabokov recovers from the flu.  He finished with 33 saves on 36 shots for his 2nd win in 4 starts.  
          The Islanders got off to a quick start when just 2:07 into the game Kyle Okposo took a Michael Grabner pass and buried a wrist shot over the glove of Carolina goalie, Cam Ward.  It was Okposo's 13th of the season.  The lead would last until 13:47 of the period, when Brandon Sutter took advantage of a mini breakaway to bury a backhand past Poulin for his 13th of the year.
          Carolina didn't waste much time in the second period to take their first lead.  Just 15 seconds into the frame James Tlusty took a Jerome Samson pass and buried the puck in the empty net for his 14th goal.  The Islanders would bounce back when at 4:10 of the frame John Tavares skated right by the Carolina defensemen and drove straight to the net and got one by Ward, his 23rd goal.  The Islanders would take their second lead of the game on the power play, at the 8:01 mark, when Frans Nielsen and Tavares played catch with the puck until Nielsen buried a one timer for his 12th of the campaign.  The lead didn't last long when just 2:57 after the Nielsen goal, Jaroslav Spacek took a shot right off the faceoff that surprised Poulin and tied the game, Spacek's 3rd goal.
          With the game going back and forth the third was set to be all but explosive.  How it ended up was with only one goal being scored; by the Islanders.  Just 38 seconds into the frame Matt Moulson took a hard slap-shot that squeaked through the pads of Ward just enough for Tavares to bang it in and give the Islanders the win, his 24th goal.  Kevin Poulin was a rock in net when the Islanders needed him to be stopping all 12 shots his way in the third.  Including a miraculous last second blocker save on a Jussi Jokinen wrist shot.    
          Tavares now has 58 points, which is an average of a point per game.  He currently sits in 10th place among the top point getters, 13 points behind leader Evgeni Malkin.  
          The Islanders continue their quest for the 8th seed against the Ottawa Senators on Presidents Day.  Puck drop is at 1:00 pm.