TORONTO — John Tavares used to be a mainstay of the New York Islanders
Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey , eventually becoming their captain.The 28-year-old center, however, will be on the opposing team for the first time in
his career Saturday night when the Islanders visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at
the Scotiabank Arena.“I assume it will be strange for sure at some level,” said
Tavares, who signed as a free agent with the Maple Leafs during the offseason.
“It’s really hard to say because I’ve never done it before.”Article continues
below ...Tavares had a strong warmup for the reunion with his former team,
scoring two goals Friday night when the Maple Leafs defeated the Blue Jackets
4-2 in Columbus.The Islanders also are coming off a win, overcoming 2-0 and 3-1
deficits at home to defeat the Ottawa Senators 6-3 on Friday.Tavares had 272
goals and 349 assists in 669 games with the Islanders and was their captain from
2013-18.In 38 games with Toronto, he has 26 goals, and is on a pace that would
surpass his career-best 38 goals, set in 2014-15.“He’s got a stick like a
crowbar,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s heavy
Andrej Sustr Jersey Womens , heavy on it. He’s got elite hockey sense.”“He’s getting to the net, he’s making plays,” said Maple Leafs right
winger Mitch Marner, who assisted on both goals by Tavares Friday and scored one
himself. “I think everyone knew when he came here how good of a one-on-one
player he was. I think when he gets it, it’s just for me to try to find the open
space and let him go to work on the people he’s going to work on.”It figures to
be an emotional night in Toronto Saturday.“You’re in one place so long and you
give so much to one place,” Tavares said. “I’m sure there will be many emotions.
At the same time, I have to approach it the best way I can, just like any other
game. I have to do my best to help my team win and try to play my best and be as
best prepared as I can.”Tavares, who grew up in the Toronto area, has been an
important addition to the Maples Leafs, who have matured into Stanley Cup
contenders.“Johnny meant so much to this organization and to us in the
room
http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-nolan-patrick-jersey , his friends and teammates,” Islanders left winger Anders Lee, now the team
captain, told Newsday. “I think we’re all looking forward to playing the game
and seeing him.”Mathew Barzal had two goals and an assist on Friday for the
Islanders, who have won five of their past six games. The Maple Leafs have won
five in a row.“I know he has a lot of good friends in our room,” Islanders coach
Barry Trotz said. “They do have a little bit of hurt. They understand it. But
they’d like to have him as a teammate and he decided he didn’t need them as
teammates anymore.”The return theme works both ways. Former Maple Leafs, left
winger Matt Martin and right winger Leo Komarov, both signed with the Islanders
in the offseason, and former Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello will be
returning to their former home rink in Toronto.Lamoriello became Islanders
president of hockey operations after Tavares signed with Toronto.Maple Leafs
backup goaltender Garret Sparks got the start in Columbus Friday, which will set
up No. 1 Frederik Andersen for the start on Friday.Islanders goaltender Robin
Lehnert stopped all 10 shots he faced after he took over in the second period
from Thomas Greiss, who allowed three goals on 17 shots.The Maple Leafs and
Islanders were both playing their first game since Sunday.Islanders right
wingers Jordan Eberle (stiffness) and Cal Clutterbuck (lower body) did not play
Friday. DALLAS (AP) Reid Boucher and Nic Dowd are near the bottom of Vancouver’s
scoring leaderboard
http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-travis-konecny-jersey , with the Canucks sitting near the bottom of the standings.They combined to help
Vancouver pull Dallas down toward the bottom Sunday night.Boucher and Dowd each
scored on the power play in a 4-1 win over the reeling Dallas Stars, who are
stuck in an 0-6-2 skid.It was the third goal of the season for each of
Vancouver’s surprise contributors. Dowd wasn’t even supposed to be on the ice on
the power play.”We were short a guy, and he jumped on the ice,” Canucks coach
Travis Green said. ”I think I was yelling at him for going out there, and then
yelling at him for scoring.”Jake Virtanen scored in the third period, and Tyler
Motte added an empty-net goal with 41 seconds left.”It was nice to get
contributions throughout our lineup,” Green said. ”Really four young guys
getting on the scoresheet was nice.”Dallas’ Mattias Janmark scored a
short-handed goal in the first period. Thirty seconds later on the same
Vancouver power play, Boucher scored. All three of Boucher’s goals have come in
the Canucks’ two games at Dallas.Vancouver shut down the Stars’ line of Jamie
Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, who had scored at least one goal in
each of Dallas’ previous eight games.”They’re as good as it gets in the league,”
Green said. ”We put the (Brandon) Sutter line against them as much as we could.
(Goalie Jacob Markstrom) was great
Barrett Hayton Jersey Womens , made some big saves on those guys.”Markstrom had 30 saves, including one on a 2-on-1 rush in the first period.”(Michael) Del
Zotto did a real good job of kind of forcing them to make a difficult pass,”
Markstrom said. ”It was a slow pass to give me time to get over.”The Canucks,
tied for 28th in the NHL ahead of only Arizona and Buffalo, won for the second
time in 10 games.”You see the guys crack a smile now,” Dowd said. ”Regardless of
where you are in the standings, you want to win every single night.”Dowd scored
his goal with one second left on a four-minute power play in the second
period.The Stars have all but fallen out of playoff contention. With six games
remaining, they are five points behind St. Louis for the second wild card from
the Western Conference. The eight-game losing streak is the longest since the
Stars moved to Dallas in 1993.”We don’t deserve to win right now,” Stars
defenseman John Klingberg said. ”We don’t have any confidence at all the way
we’re playing right now.”Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock agreed.”I think when your
scoring chances are all in the first half of the game and not in the second
half, that’s kind of telling,” he said. ”I think losing does that
Michael Grabner Jersey Womens , you do lose confidence.”Jussi Jokinen assisted on the Canucks’ first two goals.NOTES: Vancouver outscored the Stars
10-1 in the two games in Dallas. … Lehtonen stopped 23 shots. … Janmark’s
short-handed goal was his second this season, Dallas’ second in two games and
the Stars’ sixth this season. Vancouver has allowed six short-handed goals. …
Jokinen began his career with Dallas in 2005 and has played for nine NHL teams,
including four this season. He had his first two-point game since Dec. 15 for
the Kings against the Rangers. … Canucks D Ashton Sautner made his NHL debut as
an emergency call-up for Chris Tanev, who was injured in Friday’s game at St.
Louis. Sautner was playing for Utica in the AHL, where he had spent all of his
three pro seasons. ”I thought he was really good,” Green said. ”He didn’t
panic.” … The Minnesota/Dallas franchise has had four eight-game losing streaks.
The North Stars lost nine in a row from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4, 1970.UP NEXTCanucks:
Begin their final homestand (five games) against Anaheim on Tuesday night.Stars:
Finish a three-game homestand Tuesday night vs. Philadelphia.—
