Sansided
Eyes On Isles
Home/Editorials

New York Islanders Could Pass 2017-18 Mark with Toronto Maple Leafs Win

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Islanders welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. With a win could push them above their points total from 2017-18.

On Thursday the New York Islanders will welcome the Toronto Maples Leafs and former captain John Tavares to the Nassau Coliseum. It’s going to be an emotional welcoming with fans letting Tavares know just how they feel.

Tavares returned home and for greener pastures with the Leafs. Leaving the Islanders high-and-dry without their point-per-game center.

Losing him was the death note to the Islanders 2018-19 season. They were terrible in 2017-18 with 80 points from 82 games with Tavares. It was going to be worse without him.

Not on the Cards In September

With 62 games played in the 2018-19 season, the New York Islanders sit with 79 points on the year. And, most importantly, they hold first place in the Metropolitan Division.

They seem just fine without John Tavares on the roster (though I’m sure they could be even better with him).

But on Thursday, the New York Islanders can do something special. With a win, the Islanders can not only prove themselves to the man who left them (once again), but they can also definitively show that they’re better in his absence.

With a win and two points, they’ll move to 81 points on the season. One more than the New York Islanders picked up in the entirety of their 82 games 2017-18 season.

With the loss of Tavares and the pickups the Isles made in the offseason, a better season wasn’t supposed to be on the cards. The bottom of the division was what was at play. Not the top.

But with a combination of a shrewd strategy, hard work, and pure tenacity, the New York Islanders are having the success that was deemed impossible.

Want your voice heard? Join the Eyes On Isles team!

Write for us!

A win not only serves as an initial reminder of their quality but it puts the New York Islanders on 81 points and a return that betters their 2017-18, at Tavares’ expense.

facebooktwitterreddit