January 20, 2011, HockeyPrimeTime.com piece examining New York Islanders forward John Tavares

It's no crime John Tavares isn't Steven Stamkos

Atlantic

Written by Denis Gorman

Thursday, January 20, 2011 03:49

The first overall pick of the 2009 draft is facing more pressure than his 2008 counterpart. That's one reason why Tavares isn't producing at the level of Stamkos. They're also different players. Ryan Miller knows the deal. You get the pads and the mask. In return, you’re asked to stare down skaters, who are assigned to level frozen pieces of rubber at you for 60 minutes. That’s life as a goaltender. On this night, one of the NHL's pre-eminent netminders was solved three times by one of its rising young talents. AROUND THE ATLANTIC “(John) Tavares is a very tough kid,” Miller told The Associated Press a few minutes after the Islanders topped his Sabres, 5-3, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Saturday night. Tavares recorded his second hat trick of the season – the second of his NHL career – and his first natural hat trick as a professional. Tavares’ teammates equaled Miller’s praise of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. “John has always had a consistent effort,” goaltender Rick DiPietro, himself a former first overall pick, told reporters after the game. “He’s learning how to gear up for an 82-game season. It’s not an easy thing to do, especially for a 20-year old.” It's really not easy when you’re the face of a rebuilding franchise. Tavares' team is attempting to convince a jaded public – one that remembers when the barn on Hempstead Turnpike was the sun around once which the NHL universe revolved – as well as local politicians, of the need for a new building. It's even harder when the talent level surrounding him on the ice is low. That Steven Stamkos is on the short list of the NHL’s premier players is not news. Stamkos has scored 109 goals and recorded 204 points in 208 NHL games. The 20-year old leads the NHL in goals and trails only Sidney Crosby in points. Following a rookie season in which he finished with 23 goals and 46 points, Stamkos detonated the NHL for 51 goals and 95 points in 2009-10. Observers wondered if Tavares could simulate Stamkos in his second season. Tavares finished last season with 24 goals and 54 points. That hasn't exactly happened. Tavares has totaled 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 41 games this season. Why? The simple answers are that Stamkos and Tavares are different players, and the complementary pieces surrounding both are as comparable as night and day. Stamkos possesses arguably the best wrist shot in the game and is a tremendous skater. He is able to get off shots when he finds open ice. Tavares, the Ontario Hockey League’s all-time leading goal-scorer, is a wing that is miscast as a center. Tavares’ goals typically come from the low slot and around the net. Moreover, the Lightning are not a one-man gang. Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Simon Gagne, Ryan Malone and Steve Downie are all capable scorers, while Victor Hedman, Pavel Kubina and Mattias Ohlund are half of an intriguing back end. The Islanders have employed a draft-and-develop strategy that they believe will ensure future success. The present, though, shows a team whose lineup is mostly young and inexpensive. The Isles’ top two players outside of Tavares – Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit – have missed the entire season due to injuries. Notes Before their 3-2 home overtime win over Washington Tuesday night, the Flyers announced that the organization had reached an agreement with GM Paul Holmgren on a three-year contract extension. … The Devils have won three of four games as of this writing but lost D Matt Corrente for “two-to-four weeks” to an injured shoulder. Corrente suffered the injury during a fight with Tampa Bay’s Steve Downie, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. … HPT.com noted last week that the Penguins were being cautious with Sidney Crosby after the superstar was diagnosed with a mild concussion. The Associated Press reported Monday that the NHL's leading scorer could miss the All-Star Game due to the symptoms. … Rangers head coach John Tortorella told reporters prior to last Thursday’s pulsating 1-0 win over NHL-best Vancouver that slumping sniper Marian Gaborik “wants to do it. It’s just a matter of getting through it. I think he’s close. I really do.” On Wednesday, Gaborik responded with the first four-goal game of the season in a 7-0 win over Toronto. On Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman Photos by Getty Images

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