Islanders rude to Tavares in return
New York beats up Toronto 6-1; fans boo former captain
Casey Cizikas scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 Thursday night in former captain John Tavares’ first time back as a visiting player.
Anthony Beauvillier, Anders Lee and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Islanders, who had lost three of their past four. Jordan Eberle and Cal Clutterbuck each had two assists, and Robin Lehner stopped 34 shots to help New York move two points ahead of Washington atop the Metropolitan Division one night before playing host to the Capitals. The Islanders’ 81 points are one more than they had last season.
Islanders fans, vocal on social media about their lingering displeasure with Taveras’ departure after he repeatedly said he wanted to stay, booed loudly when Tavares and the Maple Leafs hit the ice for pregame warmups, and when they came back out for the start of each period.
They also serenaded him with choruses of “We don’t need you!” and other derisive chants throughout the game, including around a video tribute midway through the first period. The face of the franchise for nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall by New York in 2009, Tavares insisted he agonized over his decision to leave before announcing it on July 1, the first day of free agency.
Zach Hyman scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won three straight. Garret Sparks had 31 saves.
Boston scored three times in less than three minutes in the third period and snapped Tampa Bay’s franchise-best 10-game winning streak. Jake Debrusk, Noel Acciari, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand all had goals for the Bruins (38-17-9), who have won nine of their past 10 games and earned at least one point in 15 straight. The game was the first in NHL history in which teams faced off while each owning simultaneous point streaks of 14 or more contests.
Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3: Seth Jones scored 4:27 into overtime and Columbus beat Philadelphia. Artemi Panarin, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Scott Harrington also scored for the Blue Jackets.
Oilers 4, Senators 2: Connor Mcdavid, Sam Gagner, Colby Cave and Zack Kassian scored for Edmonton.
Coyotes 5, Canucks 2: Brad Richardson scored four goals to power Arizona to its fifth straight victory.
Note: NHL MVP Taylor Hall of the Devils has had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The team is not saying whether he will play again this season.