Tavares Scores His First NHL Hat Trick in a Islanders Loss

In what is sure to be one of many more to come, John Tavares, the young face of the superstar NHL players, scored his first hat trick in a game against the improved Florida Panthers. It's also impressive that he did it against one of the standard bearers of consistent hockey goalies in Tomas Vokoun.

I did not get to see the game live, but thanks to a great New York Islanders blog called "Lighthouse Hockey", we get a report as to how the game developed into a strong showing for Tavares' sophomore year.

[Via: Lighthouse Hockey]

Tavares and No Man is an Island-er

When it became apparent that the consensus number 1 overall pick, John Tavares was going to be a New York Islander, the overall mood of the fans this day were lowered. There was no last minute trade offer from the Maple Leafs to move up. I was disappointed for my Leaf Nation fans and friends.

The coverage of Versus was almost nothing because they just decided to simulcast the TSN broadcast. I thought the coverage was very good and I think they just may be avant garde for the rest of the professional leagues to take notice. I really liked the spot segments where Brian Burke was wearing a microphone and picked up conversations with other GMs. Fans watching at home got to see what a bad ass personality he projects while he is working. Will the 4-letter network follow up with this idea and put microphones on coaches in the NFL and NBA next year?

The NHL draft stage was nice set. They had lots of room for each NHL team Entourage that walk up along together. Compared to the other league's entry drafts, the NHL does it right with nothing too extravagant or minimalist. Since the draft was in Montreal

My Penguins picked last, being the Stanley Cup champs, and that got more tense than watching some of the other familiar junior hockey names getting drafted. "Just what does Ray Shero do here?", I thought. He didn't make my dreams come true by drafting me, but chose a kid defenseman from St. Johns Sea Dogs, Simon Després. He's not a goal scorer, but he can work on it one more year in the Q.

Sir Tavares of London, Ontario

If Oshawa of the OHL wasn't going to recover their season, then they could just as well lose without one of the most recent Junior hockey prospects.

Acquired from Oshawa in a trade Thursday, the former Generals captain scored twice and added an assist to lead the Knights in a 7-3 victory over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

On a team that has a tradition of producing hockey stars, the London Knights of the OHL will enjoy the ride to a possible championship as well as a possible Memorial Cup. They last won the memorial Cup in the 04-05 season. They also have produced Pat Kane and Rick Nash for the NHL. (Yea, but they also produced Billy Tibbets)

As far as Tavares goes, it gives more fans a chance to get to know Tavares without him getting buried. He is likely to go in the top 3 in the draft, with a big thank you to the recent World Junior Championship. So, we know Tavares has the kind of skills to rise to the top of the stats charts. Will London's new player end his career by going deep into the CHL/OHL post-season? It's likely Tavares will be making headlines this spring.

[Via: CBC.ca]