John Tavares needed Wednesday off, but fortunately for the Islanders that’s all the captain appears to have needed.
Tavares practiced fully on Thursday and gave the thumbs up on playing Friday against his good friends Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson when the Sabres visit Barclays Center in the final game before the three-day holiday break.
“Just needed a day to recover a little bit,” Tavares said. “Been a lot of hockey lately, so coaching staff, medical staff felt the day was necessary. It felt good to be back out there and I feel good (for Friday).”
Tavares has taken his usual pounding as the focal point of the Isles’ opposition, including an awkward hit from the Bruins’ Kevan Miller on Tuesday in the third period that looked like it jammed Tavares’ right arm into the boards.