John Tavares beats Maple Leafs with spectacular OT goal (VIDEO)

John Tavares is slowly building a legacy out on Long Island and, if last night was any indication, he'll be doing it long after the Islanders move to Brooklyn next year.

The Isles' captain scored on a sensational individual effort with 21.8 seconds left in overtime for a 4-3 Islanders win over the slumping Maple Leafs, salvaging a win from a game in which the Isles twice trailed by two goals in the third period.

It's the kind of momentum they can take that back home to their key match-up with the Rangers Tuesday night.

The game-winner was Tavares' 33rd goal of the season and second point of the night to increase his NHL leading point total to 72.

And to top it off, mom and dad were in the house last night to see it.

John Tavares done for NHL season with torn MCL, meniscus: Report

It's an NHL club's worst fear every four years and for the New York Islanders, that reality is slowly sinking in — after seeing their best player go down during the Winter Games.

John Tavares will miss the remainder of the NHL season, according to a league source, after suffering a knee injury while playing for Canada in the Olympics.

The source said Tavares may need surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament and a torn meniscus in his left knee, but that determination will be made when Tavares returns to Long Island from Sochi. He is staying with Canada through its final two games of the Olympics to attend the medal ceremony.

He should be ready for training camp in September.

Tavares, the Islanders captain, leads the team with 66 points. In his four-plus seasons since joining the Islanders as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Tavares has been very durable, having missed only four games, including one this season with a minor hip injury.

MRI reveals torn MCL and torn meniscus for Tavares. May need surgery. Will be ready for training camp in September. #Isles
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 20, 2014

The NHL star was hurt when he tried to sneak past Latvia's Arturs Kulda along the boards in the second period of Canada's quarterfinal game on Wednesday, but his left leg banged awkwardly with Kulda's leg and then the boards.

Tavares could not put any weight on the leg and hobbled off to the dressing room. He was initially ruled out just for the remainder of the Olympic tournament, but a MRI exam on Thursday in Sochi revealed the full damage.

The Islanders do not return to action from the Olympic break until Feb. 27. They are 12 points out of the final playoff spot with 22 games to go.

Islanders unveil new jersey for Stadium Series and it has NO island (PHOTO)

The Islanders unveiled their NHL Stadium Series jerseys, a sleek, contemporary take on their home uniforms to be worn when they face the Rangers at Yankee Stadium on Jan. 29.

There's just one thing missing on the Islanders' jerseys: The Island.

The classic emblem, featuring an orange profile of Long Island, has been done away with in favor of a more futuristic design. The Stadium Series jerseys simplify the team¹s symbol by enlarging the familiar top of the logo — an "NY" that morphs into a hockey stick — on the chest. General manager Garth Snow as well as coaches and players from the organization had input on the design.

Some fans might see it as an premature attempt for the team to disassociate itself from its longtime Long Island home as it prepares to move to Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2015. A history of the Isles' jerseys over the years (except the reviled Fisherman uni) shows it always had The Island front and center.

Still, the new look already has a major fan in Islanders captain John Tavares, who modeled the uniform for publicity photos.

"I think they¹re really sharp," Tavares said after practice Tuesday. "We've seen in the past in a lot of outdoor games a kind of retro, heritage, old-school kinda look. But this is newer, more modern."

Tavares said the bold 'NY" on the outside is a fitting look, considering the opponent.

"Obviously playing the Rangers in that game, there's a lot of fight over who¹s New York¹s team and whatnot, and I think that's still who we are," he said. "That New York with the hockey stick."

Too bad they can't put Bossy, Trottier and Gilles on the inside of them.

[Newsday]

John Tavares checked into linesman's crotch by Nikolai Kulemin (VIDEO)

The New York Islanders had a scare on Tuesday night when the Maple Leafs' Nikolai Kulemin checked the Isles best player and captain John Tavares into the boards right in front of the Islanders bench. Their concern was likely nothing compared to the horror of the official who took the full brunt of Tavares' helmeted head in his crotch.

Or as the announcer saw it, "Tavares got cold-cocked by the linesman."

Tavares lost his balance before going head first into the boards. Perhaps luckily for him, there was a linesman in the way cushioning the blow.

Tavares was understandably shaken after the punishing hit. However he stayed on the bench and was back on the ice for his next shift.

The Leafs later posted a photo of the up-close-and-personal moment.

#TMLtalk photo: Kulemin's hit on Tavares pic.twitter.com/H85PoexxtN
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 20, 2013

Islanders take LIRR to get first look at new home inside Barclays Center

How do you get  play hockey at Barclays Center? Practice, practice, practice. Then take the LIRR.

That's exactly how the Islanders got to say Hello Brooklyn and get a look at their future home on Thursday after taking the Long Island Railroad to the ice inside Brooklyn’s House That Jay Z Built for training camp.

The team left together from Garden City, Long Island and took the commuter train to Atlantic Avenue, simulating the trek from the Island will have to make in order to watch their team once the Isles vacate their Nassau County home for  Brooklyn after the 2014-2015 season.

“I think there’s one word for it, it’s beautiful,” Islanders owner Charles Wang said of Barclays. “I’m very happy as you can see from the smile.”

Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark and Wang say the team will keep the same colors and nickname when the NHL franchise moves to Brooklyn.

Yormark did say that the Islanders would likely introduce a patch on their uniforms and unveil an alternate home jersey in order to "speak to Brooklyn fans in an authentic way."

The Islanders will face off against the Devils in a preseason game on Sept. 21, the first NHL game ever to be played in Brooklyn.

“It’s going to be fun,” center Casey Cizikas said. “You could see when the Nets played in the playoffs last year against the Bulls, it was rocking and we’re going to be looking forward to the same thing. I think it’s going to be even louder for us.”

While the building was primarily built to accommodate basketball and concerts, Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark says obstructed view seating will not be offered for hockey games, leaving the sellable capacity at 15,813.

"My job is to work with Charles and make sure that we stay true to the hardcore fan,"said Yormark. "The fan that has been there from day one. But at the same time, we also want to connect with the new fan and we’re going to do it in an appropriate way."

Though the New York Americans played their final NHL season in 1941-42 as the Brooklyn Americans, they played all their games at the Garden and practiced at the Brooklyn Ice Palace.

"It definitely feels really new," captain John Tavares said.

"It’s going to take some time once we really do get here to make it feel comfortable and feel right at home," said Tavares.  "But it’s a beautiful place and in a couple of years it’ll be a nice move. ... It’ll almost feel like playing in a neutral site, but we’re looking forward to the game."