SUNRISE, Fla. — Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs was far from over, but it looked like the Islanders’ season was coming to an end.
John Tavares was hobbling off the ice, limping toward the locker room after getting hit with a shot. But just as it seemed that the series was in jeopardy and the Islanders would have to postpone their plans of a playoff run another year away, the captain turned around and came back to the bench.
He still didn’t seem ready, but he tried to force himself to be, gingerly walking around, trying to shake off the ailment threatening to derail their dreams.