John Tavares received plenty of scrutiny before his first NHL game on Saturday at Nassau Coliseum, but that figures to pale in comparison to what he’s in for tonight, when he makes his Islanders’ debut in Canada against Ottawa (7:00; MSG+2, WMJC).
“I grew up there and won World Juniors there, so there’s going to be a lot of attention,” Tavares said after the team’s practice in Syosset yesterday. “At this level, that’s part of it.”
Scott Gordon isn’t overly concerned with how the 19-year-old rookie will handle things in his native country.
“If anybody is prepared for it, it’s him,” Gordon said of Tavares, who grew up near Toronto. “He’s been under a microscope for a long time and I’m sure there’ll be a buzz about it before the game.”
But at least some of the pressure will be taken off because Tavares was able to notch a goal and an assist against the Penguins in the Isles’ opener.
“It’s a huge weight off his shoulders,” Gordon said. “You know it’s something you don’t have to think about anymore. I think he’s gonna be that much better for it . . . I don’t know if I’m gonna be surprised [by him] anymore.”
“It’s good that I got off to that start, but every team is going to do something different,” Tavares said.