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Tavares On WFAN: Islanders Are In No Way Satisfied Following Great First Half

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- John Tavares has a message for the fans invading arenas all over the East Coast to support the Islanders: We hear you loud and clear.

Speaking to WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Friday prior to his All-Star game media commitments, Tavares said his first-place club has fed off seeing friendly faces in opposing buildings -- especially at Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center, where the Islanders are a combined 3-0 this season.

"They have been coming out in droves and we've certainly enjoyed that," Tavares said.

The Islanders' captain and franchise center reflected on an utterly amazing first half of the season in which his team surprised many by establishing itself as a force in the Eastern Conference.

Sitting at 31-14-1, three points clear of second-place Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division and just one shy of Tampa Bay for the conference lead, the Islanders are enjoying the type of renaissance season befitting a franchise that once ruled the hockey world.

The nostalgia of the final season at Nassau Coliseum has helped fuel a fervor among a fan base that has known nothing but misery for two decades. The Islanders are on a collision course with just their sixth postseason appearance in the last 19 seasons and seem determined to at least record their first playoff series victory since 1992-93.

"There are still some things we want to get to and obviously we want to win the Stanley Cup," Tavares said.

Though viewed by many as the franchise's savior, the club's leader in points (45) and goals (21), said the only thing the Islanders' amazing first half did was to set the stage for meaningful hockey in late winter and early spring. Tavares said the Islanders are literally about cliches, like taking each game one at a time.

"I think if you look at it I've made the playoffs once in five years. This is my sixth year so I don't think there's a whole lot that I have accomplished and I think the team has accomplished, but there's still a long way to go," Tavares said.

Once the regular season resumes next week the Islanders will have 36 games remaining, including 21 at the Coliseum, where they are 16-4 this season. They have only 10 games left against teams currently occupying a playoff position in the East, and will see the rival Rangers three more times, all on Long Island.

Tavares said there's no question the fans have made the Coliseum a very difficult play to play for opponents.

"As a player, it's really been tremendous to be a part of and I think for our group it has really given us a lot of success," Tavares said of Coliseum, which has been sold out better than half the games this season. "It has really turned our record around from last year at home to this year to just see the support and the enthusiasm and passion that they bring."

Tavares spoke about several other topics, including the atmosphere that has come with the renewed rivalry with the Rangers. To hear his complete interview, please click the audio link below.

John Tavares

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