It was a big loss for Team Canada — and a loss that could bury the Islanders season.
In the second period of Canada’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Latvia, Tavares was hit awkwardly into the sideboards by Arturs Kulda and went to the ice in a heap. The Islanders star center and reigning Hart Trophy finalist did not return to the game, and Canadian coach Mike Babcock said afterward Tavares had a knee injury and would not be available the rest of the tournament. It was Tavares’ first time competing in the Olympics.
The Canadians play the United States in the semifinals on Friday, with the winner going on to Sunday’s gold-medal match to play the winner of Sweden-Finland.
An Islanders source said Wednesday afternoon they had no indication of the severity of Tavares’ injury – assumed to be to his left knee – and they did not know whether he was planning to come home early.
Most non-Olympic members of the team were practicing at their facility in Syosset. Their NHL schedule resumes next Thursday, Feb. 27, at home against the Maple Leafs.
Tavares, 23, is leading the Islanders with 24 goals and 42 assists in 59 games, his 66 total points ranking third in the league behind the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (78) and the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf (67). After making the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007, the Isles (22-30-8) are in last place in the Metropolitan Division, 12 points out of the final wild-card spot with six teams to leapfrog.
If Tavares is determined to be out for a long period of time, it would prompt general manager Garth Snow to act sooner rather than later in making roster moves before the March 5 trade deadline. With the official Olympic roster freeze being lifted the minute after 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, Snow will have about 10 days to cash in his trade chips.
Most notably, that includes forward Thomas Vanek and defenseman Andrew MacDonald, both of whom were aggressively shopped before the Olympics.