john tavares

Barry Trotz's new Islanders challenge is not going away soon

Now it’s on Barry Trotz to pull some more magic out of his hat. The Islanders coach has mixed and matched pretty well over the past two games, dealing with...

The Islanders never saw this level of John Tavares

TORONTO — John Tavares had the best offensive night of his career and was left wanting for more — from the defensive side of the Maple Leafs attack. Tavares had...

Tavares and Harper events more proof 'fan' is short for 'fanatic'

It really was a perfect confluence Thursday afternoon. Islanders fans had been sipping tea with lemon all day, alternating that with cheery-flavored cough drops to make sure their vocal cords...

The opportunity Islanders fans missed in John Tavares' return

You know something? I owe an apology to Islanders’ fans for setting the bar so low before John Tavares’ return to the Coliseum on Thursday that when it had ended,...

Sean Avery isn't here for Islanders fans' disrespect of John Tavares

Sean Avery is trying to take John Tavares' place as the most hated hockey player on Long Island. The former Rangers forward, who retired in 2012 after years as one...

Unwelcome Tavares returned to Islanders team that's moved on

The favorite son grew up and went away, and when he returned home for a visit, well, guess what? He was not welcome. Shocker. John Taveras spent the first nine...

The chants Tavares heard from the Islanders faithful

Islanders fans got to enjoy a 6-1 win over John Tavares' Maple Leafs on Thursday night at the Coliseum. Here’s a list of some of the various chants from Islanders...

Islanders show just how much they don't need John Tavares

This was hardly just the return of a former player. Far from it. What this felt like was the catharsis of an entire fan base, the stress and angst of...

John Tavares pelted with boos, snakes, jersey at Coliseum

You can't say they didn't see this coming. John Tavares' Thursday return to the Coliseum to face the Islanders as a member of the Maple Leafs went as expected, with...

Islanders fans give John Tavares welcome he expected in return

The vitriol finally came down, and it came in abundance. And none of it was going to surprise John Tavares. The former Islanders captain, who left as a free agent...

The untold story of John Tavares nearly re-signing with Islanders

The thing of it is, John Tavares was about to stay. When Lou Lamoriello was hired to run the operation and soon after hired Barry Trotz to take over behind...

Barry Trotz: This game is about more than just John Tavares

For most of the thousands inside the Coliseum, Thursday night will be about the return of John Tavares. For Barry Trotz and the Islanders, they insist it will be about...

Hey, Islanders fans: Boo John Tavares, but don't go overboard

An open letter, to my fellow islanders: I come to you this morning not as a sportswriter, a detached denizen of the press box, but as one who spent dozens...

John Tavares back at Coliseum -- this time as Islanders enemy

Ever since John Tavares tweeted, on July 1, a picture of his younger self in Maple Leafs bed sheets -- ending a string of tweets confirming he was leaving the...

Explaining the Islanders' shocking rise from the inside

How is this possible? That’s the question dancing throughout the NHL as the Islanders keep their stunning grip on top of the Metropolitan Division ahead of home games next week...

Gary Bettman 'not looking for a fight' with Players' Association

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Gary Bettman has found his new favorite refrain, so prepare to hear it over and over again in the coming months as the commissioner and his...

John Tavares wrecks the Devils — and reaches a milestone

John Tavares is earning every penny of the seven-year, $77 million contract the Maple Leafs gave him in the offseason. Not only is he living up to the hype, the...

Islanders ride Barzal hat trick to John Tavares smackdown

TORONTO -- John Tavares had a front-row seat for Mathew Barzal's first career hat trick, a little over a year ago -- as his friend, teammate and captain. Barzal's second...

Stars CEO's passionless-rant was meant to be strictly business

Why all the fuss? Jim Lites, an expensive suit doing the bidding of a fellow who can afford to wear an even more expensive suit, didn’t even call Jamie Benn...

Rangers do a lot well but can't keep up with elite Maple Leafs

TORONTO — If coming close and doing a fair number of good things for a fair amount is good enough for you and the Rangers, then this was a fairly...