John Tavares Delivers!

The most anticipated game on the NHL schedule this past weekend came on Saturday night when highly touted 2009 New York Islanders first overall pick John Tavares was making his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This 19 year-old who scored a spectacular 215 goals in his OHL career thrilled a sold out home crowd at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum as he made a little history by becoming only the 18^th player in franchise history to score in his debut. “It was awesome,” Tavares who also had an assist in what was an Islanders 4-3 shootout loss said. “I got great support from the fans all night. I had my family here, and they sacrificed a lot. It’s something you dream about for a long time.” Tavares who is the early favorite to win the Calder Trophy went against a former first round pick in Sidney Crosby who like Tavares came into the league and was expected to dominate and save a franchise right away. Crosby who became the youngest captain last spring to lead his team to a Stanley Cup win had on Saturday a two- point game including scoring the game’s first goal on a breakaway. Crosby was also the Pens opening night hero as he scored the winner in a shootout. “It’s disappointing, but they’re the Stanley Cup champs,” Tavares who got his first point on an assist 12:40 into regulation said about the loss. “A lot of positives can come from it. We’ve got to get over it and get back to work tomorrow.” Minutes after scoring that first goal Tavares had the crowd buzzing again when he was sent in alone on a breakaway but was robbed by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. “There was a bunch of big saves for him,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said of his goalie who had 25 saves. “He’s had the ability to continue to make that save for us when we need it, and he did tonight.” The Islanders who are coming off a dismal season took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission but couldn’t hold it. The Penguins took control of the third and at one point were out shooting the Islanders by a 11-0 margin. “We set up some pretty good gifts with our turnovers,” Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. “I think I’d be more concerned if we didn’t generate any quality chances in the third and in the overtime. That being said, a lot of that was our own doing.” Meanwhile after the shootout loss Tavares had nothing but heavy praise to say about competing against Crosby. “It was a great challenge out there,” Tavares said about going head to head against Crosby. “You can see why he’s one of the best players in the world, if not the best. He’s a great player and he’s a great leader as well.”