NEW YORK _ Here's a question for every Islanders fan to ponder: When John Tavares plays against the Rangers, who are you rooting for?
That a person might have to at least pause for a second speaks volumes about how the former captain was received Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum. I had fully expected Tavares' return to Long Island with the Maple Leafs to be one-and-done, that the fans would get the booing out of their systems and then just move on.
Two words about that prediction: No chance. What we saw instead was the birth of a rivalry. The intensity of the animosity was just too great to suggest it will disappear any time soon. Anyone who expected closure saw the opening of a whole new chapter. It brought out the best in the Islanders, who played a stellar game in a 6-1 win.
