Tavares Scores in NHL Debut

Long Island NY – John Tavares didn’t disappoint Islanders fans in his first NHL game on Saturday night

The first-overall pick in this past June’s NHL Entry Draft scored his first NHL goal and added an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It was a helluva game,” said Tavares’ as he sat in his stall after the game. “The crowd was right into it. It’s too bad we couldn’t get them the win but you know, we’re going to show them hockey like that all year.”

16,250 fans packed the Nassau Coliseum to catch the Oakville native in action against another former first-overall pick in Sidney Crosby. The two players battled all night long with Tavares getting the best of Crosby in the faceoff circle. Tavares managed to win five of eight draws including four for four in the defensive zone.

“I think John has been attentive in the defensive zone and he understands that if he can play well and compete well in the defensive zone then he’s going to get to play against the top players,” said Islanders head coach Scott Gordon. “When you look at the score from the game, I don’t think we could ask for much more from him.”

The all-time leading goal scorer in the OHL wasted little time getting on the score sheet.  With the score tied at one and the Islanders on the power play line mate and friend Matt Moulson shoveled the puck to Tavares in the slot where he was able to backhand the shot over a sprawling Marc-Andre Fleury.

“We really played our style and got the crowd into it. I think we played true Islander hockey.” – John Tavares

“It was awesome for a lot of reasons,” said Tavares of the goal. “Playing in your first game, with great support from the fans all night for me and the team. It was awesome. To have a guy like Matt Moulson, who I grew up with for quite a while back home to get an assist and be there with me, it’s kind of unique and special for me. Also, to have my family here and the reaction I got from all of my teammates made me feel really good.”

With 22:05 minutes of ice-time Tavares was second only to line mate Kyle Okposo for Islander forwards and just 27 seconds less than Penguins captain Crosby.

Crosby matched Tavares with a goal and an assist in the game. The only difference between the two forwards on this night was with the game on the line Crosby was able to score in the shootout whereas Tavares missed the net. He was also stopped earlier in the game on a breakaway set up by Okposo.

“I think – with both of my breakaways – that’s something I’m going to have to work on,” said Tavares. “Once I get to know the goaltenders more and stuff hopefully those will start going in because those are really important.”

If Tavares continues to play 16+ minutes a night on the top-line he will be the front-runner for the Calder trophy as rookie-of-the-year. Four Islanders have won the trophy in the past: Denis Potvin (’74), Bryan Trottier (’76), Mike Bossy (’78) and Bryan Berard (’97).