FanHouse John Tavares

One of the main reasons for the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning over the last month or so has been the coming of age of 2008 first overall pick Steven Stamkos. The Bolts are 6-2-4 in their last 12 and Stamkos, who leads the team in goals and points -- yes, ahead of Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis -- has 10 goals and four assists over that span. Even more impressive, he has accounted for 28% of the team's total goals scored.

Thursday night, Stamkos scored a spectacular goal that is reminiscent of John Tavares' goal from last year's World Junior Championships. Tavares knocked a rebound up in the air with his stick and then swatted it in for an impressive goal. As the saying goes, like 2009 first overall pick, like 2008 first overall pick.

The Lightning were down 3-1 in Anaheim during the second when Lecavalier fed a wide open Stamkos from behind the net. Netminder Jonas Hiller stops Stamkos' initial shot attempt but as Stamkos falls down, he bats the puck in over Hiller's right shoulder. At that point, all the Ducks netminder and defenders can do is stand in awe. And so will you when you check out the video, which is posted after the jump.

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

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UNIONDALE, NY -- Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau came to the defense of Alex Ovechkin on Saturday morning, after the superstar forward was fined $1,000 for his alleged "slew-foot" of Atlanta's Rich Peverley on Thursday.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders joined the ranks of the NHL's teams with victories this season when they went 3-for-3 in the shootout to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Monday night at Nassau Coliseum.

"It's a relief," said Islanders coach Scott Gordon.

The 0-6-1 Maple Leafs are now the league's only winless team. Toronto's next game is Saturday in Vancouver. The Islanders (1-3-3) play Thursday in Montreal.

Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen and John Tavares scored the three shootout goals for the Islanders against Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward. Dwayne Roloson allowed one to Jussi Jokinen but stopped Sergei Samsonov. Up 2-1 in the shootout, Tavares's goal sealed the second point for the Islanders.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The kid didn't even try to act cool.

Immediately after backhanding the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury at 7:01 of the second period for his first NHL goal, John Tavares joyfully pointed toward the hysterical home crowd and jumped into the arms of linemate Matt Moulson. The 2009 first overall pick didn't have to act like he'd been there before. He hadn't.

What a scene.

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John Tavares is serious. As he prepares to make his NHL debut on Saturday night when the Islanders host Pittsburgh, the 2009 first overall pick has reminded observers of Derek Jeter in his approach. Everything is about team. Nothing is about him. Tavares is friendly and hospitable but he isn't going to post on Twitter or fill a reporter's notebook. In other words, Tavares has been a coach's dream -- which is what a 19-year-old who hasn't played a game in the NHL should be.

Without dazzling quotes from the young man himself, FanHouse spoke with several people around Tavares and the NHL to talk about the player and his highly-anticipated rookie season. We'll check in with Tavares, too.

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Doug Weight, his wife Allison and their three children live on the North Shore of Long Island. For the next month or so, the NHL veteran and his family will be joined in their house by a teenager: 2009 first overall pick John Tavares.

"They've made me feel right at home," said Tavares. "Some home-cooked meals, a nice family to be with. It really was a kind gesture by Doug and his wife."

The New York Islanders are taking on the Los Angeles Kings in an exhibition game on Tuesday night at the brand new Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Since the town has been considered a possible landing spot for the Islanders if the lighthouse project falls though, forcing the team to consider other options, the local scribes in Kansas City are already hyping up the players in orange and blue to semi-ridiculous levels.

Take, for instance, the article written by Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star on Monday, particularly the paragraph discussing No. 1 overall draft pick John Tavares (who, by the way, will not be playing against the Kings on Tuesday):

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, we'll look at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

No Zubov For Columbus

On Sunday, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus-Dispatch reported on how Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson is prepared to enter the season with the team's current defensive lineup, and that despite a connection between free agent rearguard Sergei Zubov and current head coach Ken Hitchcock, the team has no interest in the veteran. Actually, he doesn't seem to have interest in anybody at this point. Even with Howson's desire to enter the season as is, the Blue Jackets could certainly use some punch from their defense.

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. -- On Wednesday, the New York Islanders formally introduced their first overall pick, John Tavares, to fans and the media. A few hundred fans packed in to get their first glimpse at their young star at a lunchtime press conference on the floor of the Nassau Coliseum.

About 20 rows of fans were seated between the stage and television cameras, and they gave a standing ovation when he was introduced. So much so that if you catch the highlights on TV tonight it might look more like a political rally than a press conference.

So, on a Wednesday in July, the Islanders officially started the John Tavares Era. There was more excitement in the Coliseum than there was on most game nights last season.