ISLANDERS GET BOO-ST FROM TAVARES’ RETURN
“We Don’t Need You” was the evening’s chant of choice.
But the Islanders could use John Tavares making a few more visits here because it stoked them and their rabid fans during a 6-1 win in the one-time franchise hero’s return. It was unquestionably the most hostile environment the Toronto Maple Leafs have faced in a road game since the 2002 playoffs here. It could not have gone worse for Tavares and the Leafs couldn’t have played as poorly against the surprising Isles, who came out of a slump to restore their first-place standing in the Metropolitan Division. Inside Nassau Coliseum, it was New York Fire Department Appreciation Night, while outside a few fans were burning No. 91 jerseys in garbage bins. Sweaters not set alight had the back nameplate reworked with “Traitor,” “Dead To Me” and “Pyjama Boy.” The booing and middle fingers began when Tavares poked his head out the gate for warm-up, a sea of blue and orange gathered at the glass where visiting Toronto fans are usually stationed for pucks. The crowd even jeered his practice shots.
During the abuse, he looked across the ice a few times at his old team, where Cal Clutterbuck gave him a stick tap of support. But an Isles sweater flew by his head as he exited the ice after warm-up.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock robbed the crowd of a chance to mock his name being announced in the starting lineup, but when Tavares hopped over the boards 18 seconds in, Nassau Coliseum sounded like ancient Rome when lions and tigers took on Christians.
Meanwhile, a story in the New York Post claimed Tavares was on board with the hiring of Lou Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz and was leaning toward re-signing until he was urged by his agent to entertain presentations from other teams and was most impressed by Toronto’s. In the end, the Isles lost him for nothing when a 2018 deadline trade might have eased the departure. At the first timeout, the much discussed tribute video played, which included Tavares scoring big goals and helping kids and the elderly in the community. But if there was a thoughtful narrative to it, no one could hear over chants such as, “You’re a liar.”
Others insisted he deserved the accolades for staying with the team as long as he did with its internal strife and questionable trades during his tenure. They get to do it all again here April 1 in the last game of the season’s series.
GAME ON
The Leafs were already behind the 8-ball on a back to back with their defence depleted and backup Garret Sparks losing for the fourth time in his last five decisions.
Tavares was on the perimeter of the game’s first two goals by linemate Zach Hyman and the response by the Isles’ Anthony Beauvillier, a 3-on-1 with Jake Muzzin caught pinching.
In the middle period, Anders Lee, Tavares’s replacement as captain, took similar advantage with Morgan Rielly up too far. After a nifty Mitch Marner-to-Hyman goal was erased on a marginal offside challenge, the Leafs second power-play unit, specifically Muzzin and Tyler Ennis, messed up and Casey Cizikas took advantage for the first of two goals.
The emergency pairing of Martin Marincin and Justin Holl was overmatched on a Valtteri Filpulla goal with ex-Leaf Leo Komarov assisting.
“I’m just going to go out there and worry about what I can control,” Tavares said before the game. “A lot of emotions go through you. I tried to be open and honest about my decision.” Isles supporters will challenge him on that last point, the true bone of contention in his departure. They understood the lure of the Leafs and a US$77-million contract, but they believed he was giving more serious consideration to staying. In the end, they lost him for nothing when a 2018 deadline trade might have eased the departure.
Trotz and Babcock pointed out how they, too, left good organizations for financial reward. “It’s all part of life. At times you have to make decisions,” Babcock said of leaving Detroit after a decade. “He’s not a kid. He made a decision for his family and himself, not based on what the rest of the world thinks.”
“In some ways, when you get fired or you get traded, when you go back, (fans) they’re fine with you. You leave on your own, sometimes there can be hard feelings. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but that’s just the reality of the situation.” Babcock chatted with Tavares Thursday morning to make sure he was not jittery about the game or whatever he heard or saw from the crowd.
“The game is played between the boards. I’ll put my skates on like I do every game,” said Tavares. “It was nine years I’ll never forget. ”