VANCOUVER — The Islanders moved on from John Tavares’ exit via free agency pretty much on July 1, the day he signed a seven-year, $77-million deal with his hometown Maple Leafs. The only residual effect has been the collective chip on the team’s shoulder to disprove all the gloom-and-doom predictions for life without their ex-captain.
Still, the Islanders faced numerous questions about Tavares as they traveled through Canada this week and in the midst of a stretch of six straight games against Canadian opponents, culminating with the Maple Leafs making their first visit at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night.