It's been a long time since John Tavares left the Islanders for the Maple Leafs, and the next contract cycle for No. 91 is getting ready to begin, with the signing of a contract extension with the Maple Leafs on July 1st. Qualifications can be obtained.
But as old wounds fester, Islanders fans continued to boo Tavares on Thursday, when the Maple Leafs visited Long Island for the final time this season. Just like when he scored his 1,000th goal at UBS Arena in December, and like every year, Tavares fans continued to boo. At other times Tavares played on the Island.
Even though the former captain's teammates are willing to forget the past, the memory of Tavares asking not to be traded before leaving the team that drafted him still boils the blood of Islanders fans, so perhaps they will The booing won't stop anytime soon. Let it pass.
“The fans will do what they want,” Brock Nelson said before the Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime at UBS Arena. “Johnny has given a lot to the organization and the fan base. He's spent a lot of time here and made a lot of friends. I think he had a good time and I appreciate him being here. I think everyone who knew him enjoyed having him here and he was a great leader for us. I don't think you'll get unanimous approval anywhere you go.”
The boos in December became a national topic. Part of that was after Tavares hit a milestone, and part of the reason was that TNT's Paul Bissonnette called Islanders fans a “clown show” on X (formerly Twitter).
MSG's Butch Goring was also involved in this, which escalated into a war of words that continues to this day.
“I kind of saw it. That's just a passionate Islanders fan,” Matthew Barzal said with a laugh. “That's really it, I don't know what else to say. I think it's just a thing and our fans are passionate and emotional.
“They obviously don't forget things quickly.”
Casey Cizikas was listed weekly after sustaining a lower-body injury while blocking a shot by Nikita Zadorov against Vancouver on Tuesday.
Coach Lane Lambert said after the game that a decision will be made Friday whether injured players Cizikas, Semyon Varlamov, Ryan Purok and Robert Bortozzo will travel with the team to Nashville for Saturday's game. .
Julien Gauthier was a healthy scratch for the first time since Dec. 27 against Pittsburgh.
Noah Dobson's four points and all assists were career highs.
On Thursday morning, Barzal hosted a group of 11- and 12-year-olds from the Burnaby Winter Club, the youth team he played for as a child.
“That rink, that organization has a special place in my heart for me,” he said. “Most of my childhood was spent there. It's a special place for me.”
