Now healthy, Islanders' Tavares to return versus Canadiens
Captain John Tavares will return to the lineup on Thursday when the New York Islanders visit the Bell Centre to face the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Jack Capuano confirmed the news to the team's official website, ending Tavares' streak of missed games at three. Tavares had been sidelined with a mystery illness, which was later revealed to be "flu-like symptoms."
"I feel pretty good," the 25-year-old Tavares told the website after participating in an optional skate on Thursday morning. "It was a rough weekend for me. It (stinks) watching. I take a lot of pride being as durable as I can. But just the way I felt, there was just no way I could have found a way to play."
The Islanders struggled in his absence, totaling just five goals in three games (1-1-1).
Tavares shares the team lead in goals (five) with Frans Nielsen and has a club-best 11 points for New York (7-3-3), which looks to avenge a three-game regular-season sweep at the hands of the Canadiens (11-2-1).
