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Head coach Barry Trotz likes that the New York Islanders have gotten a preview of life in the playoffs the last several days. Good thing, because another postseason-type game awaits Trotz and the Islanders on Friday night. The Islanders will follow up their most raucous victory of the season by trying to maintain sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division when they host the Washington Capitals. Continue to Article

March 01, 2019 11:27:am EST

John Tavares knew he would get a hostile reception from New York Islanders fans in his first visit as a visiting player since the former captain left to sign with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent last summer. ''I don't really expect it to be a very welcoming return,'' Tavares told reporters Thursday before the Maple Leafs lost 6-1 to the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. The face of the franchise for nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall by New York in 2009, Tavares repeatedly said during his final season here that he hoped things would work out but wasn't sure what would happen. Continue to Article

February 28, 2019 11:34:pm EST

One of the numerous chants that New York Islanders fans directed toward John Tavares Thursday night was “We don't need you,” a reference to the team's success this season after their former captain left for the Toronto Maple Leafs via free agency last summer. Islanders fans had waited for this game since Tavares signed his seven-year, $77M contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1. There were plenty of Tavares Islanders jerseys that were switched up to either “91 TRAITOR” or “91 GORING,” thanks to some tape and a Sharpie, and there were some jerseys that were set ablaze, run over my passing cars in the parking lot, and a large amount of chants disparaging their former franchise player. Continue to Article

February 28, 2019 11:02:pm EST

Two months after he made the decision to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, Tavares told me that he was hoping for a “positive reception” from the Islanders faithful in his first game back in New York. Even then, he understood his move wasn't popular with many fans who felt betrayed by him. Walk around Barclays Center or Nassau Coliseum this season and you'll spot many “91 TAVARES” jerseys have had the nameplates changed to either “91 GORING” or “91 TRAITOR,” thanks to tape and a Sharpie. Continue to Article

February 28, 2019 11:00:am EST

Thursday night, John Tavares makes his highly anticipated return to Long Island since signing with the Maple Leafs in the summer. Tavares spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Islanders, but the captain became an unrestricted free agent after failing to agree to an eight-year extension with the Islanders. He then signed with the Maple Leafs, which he said was a “a childhood dream” of his. Continue to Article

February 26, 2019 1:36:pm EST