Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares. Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

'Really special': Maple Leafs' John Tavares records 1,000th point playing the villain

By Jim Biringer | Last updated 12/12/23

Most players don't get heartily booed when they celebrate a major career achievement. On Monday night in Long Island, however, that was not the case for John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Before a mostly hostile crowd that included his dad, Tavares — who played for the New York Islanders from 2009-2018 — became the 98th player in NHL history to record 1,000 points (435 goals and 565 assists) with a goal and assist. The Islanders, however, won in overtime 4-3.

Point No. 1,000 for John Tavares (@91Tavares) comes as he sets up the game-tying goal with just seconds to play to salvage a point for the @MapleLeafs. pic.twitter.com/Bc2V5naMDf
— NHL (@NHL) December 12, 2023

Outside of Islanders fans, many in the hockey world were hoping Tavares would accomplish the milestone against the team that drafted him first overall in 2009.

With Toronto trailing 3-1, Tavares made things interesting heading into the third period when he scored by redirecting a Conor Timmins shot. As the clock wound down in the third period, the villain of the night etched his name into the history books. Tavares won three key faceoffs, allowing the puck to stay in the Islanders zone.

With the Maple Leafs controlling the play, William Nylander took a shot from the point that had eyes, bounding off Tavares and over to Morgan Reilly, who tied the score with 6.7 seconds left.

The Maple Leafs poured off the bench to celebrate this moment with their captain. Although the Islanders organization recognized his accomplishment on the big screen, the home fans booed Tavares. Every time he returns to Long Island, he hears it from the fans, many of whom remember this tweet after he signed with Toronto in 2018.

Not everyday you can live a childhood dream pic.twitter.com/YUTKdfMALl
— John Tavares (@91Tavares) July 1, 2018

Tavares acknowledged to Luke Fox of Sportsnet after the game that it was a special moment for him, especially with his dad in the building.

"Yeah, really special. Just everything you go through, through childhood, adolescence, and obviously, living a dream playing in the NHL, [reaching 1,000] in a place that I spent nine years of my life, family and my dad coming down here to visit, being a big part of that," Tavares said.

The Islanders got the last laugh thanks to a Bo Horvat overtime goal, but the night still belonged to Tavares.

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