from Mark Herrmann of Newsday,

Heaven knows what he would have been like all these years with an All-Star scorer skating on his wing. Aide from the brief foray into the Thomas Vanek business, which did not work and which cost Tavares the company of his buddy Matt Moulson to boot, the Islanders have not made a major acquisition. In lieu of that, toward the end of this season, that they put their second-best center, Nielsen, on Tavares’ left wing with Okposo on the right.

Fact is, Tavares is so good that he gives the Islanders at least a puncher’s chance in every single game they play. The captain is more savvy than ever now, in his seventh season.

“He’s just one of those clutch players,” goalie Thomas Greiss said. “He has so much determination, will. He just makes things happen. He drives so hard. He won’t be stopped.”

It would be too frustrating for words if a big chunk of his prime would go by without him ever having had the reward of making it to the second round.

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Watch highlights from the Islanders 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers below...