“It was obviously a long time coming, and we know how much our fans have been wanting that one and how much they deserve it”, the Islanders’ captain told WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Monday.
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The New York Islanders pulled out a double-overtime win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday evening to advance to the second round of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.
“We want to enjoy tonight, but we want to keep this thing going”, Tavares said. “I just think it’s going to get us some confidence knowing that we can win at any type of hockey we play”. According to the Hockey-Reference website, Tavares notched five goals and four assists for nine points in the six games against the Panthers.
And even more certainly, Tavares and the Islanders long have been treated as a fringe satellite team in this town, with less coverage than the Devils, at least when they were winning championships, the Nets, the co-tenants with whom they now share a home in Brooklyn, and even for a while St. John’s hoops. We obviously got some key additions last season with (Nick) Leddy and (Johnny) Boychuk and (Thomas) Greiss, who was unbelievable in net for us.
The Islanders will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round and the series is expected to begin Thursdayat Amalie Arena in Tampa.
“We’ve gone through so much that, for me, what it means is the guys battled”, Capuano said.
With Thomas Hickey and Quine as past overtime heroes in the series, the unexpected seemed to be the expected heading to overtime.
NEW YORK (AP) – The Barclays Center crowd was roaring during pregame introductions and through the early minutes of the game. You can tell he loves being an Islander and takes pride in donning the Isles crest on his chest.
Tavares says the Islanders aren’t done yet.
Florida forward Jaromir Jagr played in his 208th career playoff game to tie Wayne Gretzky for 16th on the all-time list.
Luongo made 49 saves in a strong effort, but the Islanders won in overtime for the third time in the series.
The Islanders suffered plenty of heartbreak between playoff successes, with seven first-round exits, beginning with a humiliating four-game sweep by the rival Rangers in 1994, and including Game 7 losses on the road to Toronto in 2002 and Washington past year. In the second period of overtime Tavares broke the curse as put a wrap-around attempt in the back of the net and willing his team into the second round of the postseason. “What we were up against with the team that they have, to win series your special teams and your goaltending have to be really good”. It was Huberdeau’s first goal of the series and marked the fifth time Florida scored first.
Hitchcock said Tarasenko plays a heavier game so needs shorter shifts, and noted he doesn’t kill penalties.
Luongo came up big again as play swung the Islanders way for most of the frame. He went on to score the victor and series-ending goal in double overtime. John Tavares scored five goals by himself (and set up four others).
Mike Bossy led the New York Islanders in goals and points during the 1982-83 regular season on their way to their fourth straight Stanley Cup.
“A lot of respect for what Minnesota can do on their side”, said Patrick Sharp, who had one of three first-period goals for Dallas.
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After a period of rebuilding and dealing with a series of management and ownership issues, the Islanders have returned to prominence in recent years, led by captain John Tavares, the top pick in the 2009 draft. “We knew what we had to do”.
