Isles Tavares & Halak Shine at NHL ASG

Your New York Islanders were represented at the NHL All-Star Game by John Tavares & Jaroslav Halak in Columbus last night.  Team Toews defeated Team Foligno by the score of 17-12, which is the highest scoring NHL ASG in history.

John Tavares scored once in the first period, twice in the second & once in the third to tie an NHL record for the most goals scored in the All Star Game.  Tavares was out there towards the end of the game, but couldn’t get his fifth.  The most recent player to score four goals in an All-Star Game was Dany Heatley in 2003, Mike Gartner in 1993, Vincent Damphousse in 1991, Mario Lemieux in 1990 & Wayne Gretzky in 1983.  Eric Hornick pointed out that John Tavares is the first player in NHL ASG history to score 4 goals and NOT win All-Star MVP. "Yeah, I'll take it," said Tavares, "[Gretzky and Lemieux] are two of the best to ever play, probably one and two, so yes, it's pretty cool."

Somehow, that honor went to local representative, Ryan Johansen of the CBJ.  When asked about the MVP award, Tavares said, "You score 4 goals you know you have a good opportunity but it's always nice to see the hometown guys do well.”  Philadelphia Flyer and former CBJ, Jakub Voracek tied Mario Lemieux’s record for points in an NHL ASG (6) & was also overlooked in MVP voting as well.

Islanders’ goalie Jaroslav Halak made some nice saves & gave up the fewest goals in the game (4 on 10 shots) during his play in the third period.  “I just tried to not give up more goals than we scored,” Halak said. “It was a fun weekend.”

The Islanders face the New York Rangers at the NVMC tomorrow at 7 p.m. It will be a much anticipated rematch since the Isles 3-0 win at MSG last Tuesday.  With a blizzard set to hit sometime today that has the potential to go into and through Tuesday, both teams will most likely spend some time at the NVMC and at the Marriott today (Staple), just across the way from the arena to beat the snow. If you are going, please be safe going to and from the game.

And here’s to an even better second half of the season.