Islanders John Tavares Behind The Back Play Doesn’t Make Top 40

New York Islanders captain John Tavares scored an outstanding single effort goal against the St. Louis Blue last December. Truly highlight reel stuff for years. And it didn’t even make the NHLs top 40.

Do you remember December 8th, 2016? The New York Islanders were playing the St. Louis Blues in Brooklyn and John Tavares scored one for the ages. And it’s getting no love from the NHL season round-up.

If you forgot, don’t worry I’ll remind you. The goal I’m talking about is the effort that saw John Tavares, kick himself a bouncing puck while being tied up by Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, play the puck while his stick was across his back, create separation from four Blues defenders and score top shelf on Jake Allen.

Just look it for yourself. It was a goal of pure beauty, strength, skill, and pure determination.

We’re Here You Know!

After praising the NHL for giving the New York Islanders some love in their Top 40 Breakout Players of 2016-17 I feel like I should take it back.

Must Read: Anders Lee Makes NHL Top 40 Breakout Players of 2016-17

If there was ever a slam dunk for the Islanders to make a top 40 highlight package, it was this. They had forty chances to find something and they didn’t find anything.

As in the Islanders aren’t mentioned once in their Top 40. The Isles aren’t the only ones, the Ducks don’t appear once either. I haven’t seen too many Ducks games, but I don’t seem to remember Ryan Getzlaf play the puck while his stick was draped across his back.

Actually, the only highlight for a Ducks game I can remember is that Josh Bailey overtime winner at the start of the season…not the greatest pro-Ducks example, but you get my drift.

I understand that the Islanders play second fiddle in the New York market, but this was a slam dunk. Heck, a kid doing research on YouTube for such a piece could have dug up

this Tavares goal. It’s on most 2016-17 highlight packages. It actually made this Top 10 Goals from 2016-17 compilation at number three…made by the NHL and hosted on their official YouTube channel.

Next: Way Too Early 2017-18 Isles Defensive Pairings

C’mon NHL. Just two months ago you ranked the Tavares third amongst all goals scored in the 2016-17 NHL season. I get that you have to push out content 12 months a year even when there isn’t any hockey being played. We go through the same thing. But a little continuity goes a long way.