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New York Islanders Top Four Tavares Moments in 2017-18

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders poses for a portrait during the 2018 NHL All-Star at Amalie Arena on January 27, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders poses for a portrait during the 2018 NHL All-Star at Amalie Arena on January 27, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 22: Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers and John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders fight for the puck in the second period during their game at Barclays Center on November 22, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 22: Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers and John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders fight for the puck in the second period during their game at Barclays Center on November 22, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Embarrassing Couturier

There’s nothing better than a good dangle. You generally don’t see it coming, and nor does the player who falls victim. But when the perfect deke is executed you have no choice but to get out of your seat and applaud.

But a dangle usually occurs in open ice, the attacker being closed in by a defender. And then there’s what John Tavares did to Sean Couturier on November 22nd, 2017.

It was overtime and Tavares was trying to lead the attack against divisional rivals Philadelphia Flyers. Tavares was pinned to the boards by Couturier. There was nowhere left to go. Couturier just had to wait for support and the attack will have been successfully nullified.

And then Tavares moved space and time – or just the puck using his free hand – to get the puck away from Couturier and into open ice. The Flyers defender, having already stopped skating to staple gun Tavares to the boards couldn’t recover. And Tavares found Josh Bailey alone in the slot.

It almost didn’t come off. Not a noted goal scorer Josh Bailey needed two cracks at the puck before sliding it past Brian Elliott for the game-winner.

You can hear just how special that play is by the reaction of the crowd. Tavares was truly out of the play but still managed to find a way to get it done. That’s next level type of play. And that’s why we need him to stay.

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