New York Islanders Emergence Of Lee (Winners & Losers)

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Apr 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of game two of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: John Tavares

I’ve heard chatter recently that Josh Bailey is the MVP for the Islanders this season. I get it we don’t always want to give it to the same person year after year, but lets be honest. Has anyone been better than John Tavares? Nope.

Tavares aside Bailey has certainly been the Isles best and most consistent player, but that’s only when you don’t factor Tavares in the equation at all.

Over this nice little run of five games, where the Isles have gone 4-0-1 Tavares has six points. Capped off with that outstanding goal against the Blues last night, where Tavares did what Tavares does and just dazzled.

Shaking off a defender by playing the puck from behind his back, Tavares confused and bedazzled the entire Blues team as four defenders backed away to give Tavares an uncontested slot area to burry the puck in the top corner.

The fortunes of the team match that of it’s star player. If the Isles were going to get anything going and move up the standings they were going to have to be led there by the man with the ‘C’.

Tavares is leading by example and dragging this team, again, to some form of respectability. There’s still a lot of hockey to go in this 2016-17 season. But over the last two weeks the Isles have started to look like that 100 point team they’ve been the last two years.