John Tavares returns to NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum as a member of the Maple Leafs to face the Islanders on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. It's Tavares' first game back at the Coliseum since leaving the Islanders in free agency on July 1, 2018. John Tavares and Zach Hyman of the Maple Leafs look on late in the third period against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Anders Lee of the Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs with teammate Scott Mayfield at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Valtteri Filppula of the Islanders scores a goal late during the second period against Garret Sparks of the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Brock Nelson of the Islanders celebrates his third-period goal against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Brock Nelson of the Islanders celebrates his third-period goal against Garret Sparks of the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs skates off the ice as the Islanders celebrate their victory at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs with teammate Scott Mayfield at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs plays the puck during the second period against Robin Lehner of the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs skates against Mathew Barzal of the Islanders during the third period at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares and Zach Hyman of the Maple Leafs look on late in the third period against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs with teammate Scott Mayfield at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Garret Sparks of the Toronto Maple Leafs surrenders a first-period goal against Anthony Beauvillier of the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Anthony Beauvillier of the Islanders celebrates his first-period goal with teammate Mathew Barzal as John Tavares of the Maple Leafs looks on at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs skates during the first period against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs celebrates his team's first-period goal against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafsat NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs with teammate Scott Mayfield at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrates his second-period shorthanded goal against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Robin Lehner of the Islanders makes a save during the second period against Zach Hyman of the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Johnny Boychuk of the Islanders defends against John Tavares of the Maple Leafs during the first period at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs acknowledges a video tribute during the first period of a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Mathew Barzal of the Islanders skates against John Tavares of the Maple Leafs during the first period at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Fans react and hold up banners during player warmups before a game between the Islanders and the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Fans react and hold up banners during player warmups before a game between the Islanders and the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Fans react and hold up banners during player warmups before a game between the Islanders and the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's NAssau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's NAssau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's NAssau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Christian Forte of East Quogue poses for a photograph with a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Steven Silverman, left, of Cedarhurst and Charlie Summers of Rockville Centre pose for a photograph wearing jerseys of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Islanders fans arrive for a game against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.<doc-sep>GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs awaits a face-off during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Maple Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) New York Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier Has Fallen Out Of Favor by Matt O'Leary New York Islanders Defense and Goaltending Are The Answer by Ian Miniero Former New York Islanders captain, John Tavares, is making his return to Long Island. It’s expected to be a playoff-like atmosphere. February 28, 2019 has been marked on New York Islanders fans calendars for a very long time. John Tavares, the Snake, Pajama Boy, or whatever else you might want to call him is making his return to Nassau Coliseum. As Islanders fans know, Tavares left in the worst possible way, after promising fans for years and years that he wanted to stay. It’s safe to say the disdain for Tavares is going to outweigh any positive reception JT is dreaming of. There’s been a lot of talk about how people should react to John Tavares when he takes the ice and honestly, you should react however you want to. Nobody has the right how to tell you to feel about a player or a decision so boo as loud as you want if that’s what’s in your heart. A large chunk of the media up North is telling you that you should bow to Tavares because he gave everything to this franchise before leaving. Don’t listen. You can react however you want to, as long as it’s in reason, of course. Don’t be an idiot, that’s the only caveat to all of this. As long as you don’t do anything wildly stupid or inappropriate however you want to react to Tavares returning is up to you. It’s going to be a fun night, let the past seven months of emotion come out. Isles Tweet of the Day It’s been 7 months, 238 days since 12 PM on July 1, 2018 when John Tavares announced he was leaving for Toronto. Every #Isles fan remember where they were that day. All that pain, anger, betrayal from that day will finally be felt when #91 steps on the Coliseum ice tonight. — Rob Taub (@RTaub_) February 28, 2019 Our Stuff Editorials: Beauvillier has fallen out of favor It’s been a tough year for Anthony Beauvillier in 2018-2019. It’s become clear that he has fallen out of favor with the New York Islanders staff. Editorials: Offense struggles post deadline In their first game after the trade deadline, the New York Islanders offense struggled in a 3-1 loss to Calgary. They were also 0-for-4 on the power play.<doc-sep>John Tavares seemed resigned to his fate. The heart and soul of the New York Islanders for nine seasons, the team's former captain bolted for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency last summer after a prolonged soap opera of "will he or won't he" that gripped the hockey world. Tavares was torn between the franchise that drafted and nurtured him, and the pull of going home to play for the club he grew up supporting in the suburbs just west of Toronto — one whose logo adorned the sheets on his childhood bed. Set to return to his old stomping ground for the first time Thursday when the Leafs visit the Islanders, the 28-year-old knows what's in store from a passionate fanbase that feels he left their team hung out to dry. "You have a sense of what it might be like," Tavares said prior to Thursday's game. "Whatever it is, it'll be." 'We don't need you' The fans booed loudly when Tavares and the Maple Leafs hit the ice for pregame warmups, and several times during their skate. They also serenaded him with choruses of "We don't need you!" and other derisive chants. At least one plastic snake was thrown on the ice and an Islanders jersey was thrown in Tavares' direction as he left the ice. The boos and chants returned when the Maple Leafs came back on the ice for the game, and also when Tavares entered play in the opening minute. Fans also booed during a video tribute to Tavares midway through the first period, and again loudly chanting "We don't need you!" as the video ended. A video of fans reacting to their former hero's departure produced by a local TV station that included words like "traitor" and "snake" went viral on social media this week. Initial reaction to his July 1 signing in Toronto was vitriolic. John Tavares brokes #Isles fans hearts when he left for Toronto in July. Thursday he’ll face those fans on LI for the first time. It won’t be a warm reception. Watch #DearJohn today on @News12. @eyesonislesFS @Offside_Tavern @Section_329 @IslesGirl3 @islesfanrico @gothambatman14 pic.twitter.com/8mzvxzaDw9 —@KMaherNews12 It's not so much that he left New York. It's how and when everything unfolded with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft that gnaws at Islanders fans, although he was well within his right as an unrestricted free agent to do so. Repeatedly explained decision Tavares has repeatedly explained his decision to leave for an opportunity he felt he couldn't pass up. Speaking this week in Toronto, the veteran centre said he hopes his legacy in New York will be that he gave everything, even though that wasn't enough to get the team where it needed to be in the standings. "I really embraced being an Islander," said Tavares, who had 35 goals in 2018-19 heading into Wednesday's action. "I loved it. It was a great place to play. I never didn't enjoy my time there, even when things weren't going well. I did everything I could to help the team hopefully win a Stanley Cup. "Unfortunately we weren't able to do that and I take responsibility, especially being the captain, not doing a good enough job consistently." New York made the playoffs in just three of his nine seasons, winning only one round, but Tavares scored the fifth-most goals in the NHL during his tenure, three back of Corey Perry and seven shy of Sidney Crosby. "I gave it everything I had," he said. "Just tried to be the best player and person I can be." The rest of the Leafs will do their best to support Tavares in his return. "It's going to be crazy," centre Auston Matthews said. "We need to make sure we're prepared despite all the stuff going on around it." Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly added that teammates have been gently ribbing Tavares about what's in store. "I'm sure he has mixed emotions," Rielly said. "It's important we play well for him. That's really what he wants." The game will be played at the renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum — the Islanders are splitting their schedule between the old rink that served as their home from 1972 to 2015 and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the next few seasons — which will add even more spice to the atmosphere. "Your first game, first goal," Tavares said. "A lot of great memories, spent a lot of time there. "It'll be fun to be in that environment again." While their fans are still angry, the Islanders haven't missed Tavares on this ice. New York sits tied atop the Metropolitan Division with Washington, while Toronto was three back of Boston in the Atlantic heading into Wednesday's home date with Edmonton. Islanders get best of Leafs The Islanders also thumped the Leafs 4-0 in Toronto at the end of December in their first game against Tavares. "Everyone thought it was a one-man team," New York head coach Barry Trotz, the favourite to win the Jack Adams Trophy, said recently. "There's more to the Islanders than just one man. "There's some really good pieces, some really good people." WATCH | Islanders blank Tavares, Leafs: Game Wrap: Barzal scores natural hat trick as Isles blank Leafs Sports 1:54 Mathew Barzal scored a natural hat trick in the second period as the New York Islanders shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0. 1:54 And while his former fans might not want to hear it, Tavares said he will always cherish his career on Long Island. "I grew a lot in my time there and am really thankful for the impact a lot of people had on me," he said. "I gave it everything I had on a daily basis and tried to do the best I could for the Islanders. "[I] was really proud to be one."<doc-sep>
Islanders fans flocked to NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum for the Islanders' game against John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. It's Tavares' first game back at the Coliseum since leaving the Islanders in free agency on July 1, 2018. Islanders fans cheer after a goal in the first period against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Islanders fans cheer after a goal in the first period against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Patrick Dowd of Bay Shore holds a banner in reference to former New York Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Fans pose for a photograph in front of a banner in reference to former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Nick Martorano of Lindenhurst poses for a photograph with a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Steven Silverman, left, of Cedarhurst and Charlie Summers of Rockville Centre pose for a photograph wearing jerseys of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Christian Forte of East Quogue poses for a photograph with a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Islanders fans arrive for a game against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Islanders fans arrive for a game against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Islanders fans arrive for a game against the Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. John Tavares of the Maple Leafs warms up before a game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. An Islanders fan wears a jersey of former Islander John Tavares, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs in his first game back on Long Island against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.