Gotta See It: Tavares pulls off rare triple deke

New York Islanders Hart nominee John Tavares shows off his stickwork Thursday.

Not all great work ends in stretched twine.

Yes, Sidney Crosby’s channeling of Mario Lemieux during Thursday night’s Penguins victory was a thing of beauty, and because of the finish, it will rightfully become the goal that is remembered from the series.

But the second-period drive to the net by Crosby’s fellow Hart Trophy nominee, John Tavares, deserves a look — even though 91 failed to beat goaltender Tomas Vokoun (as did the rest of the Islanders).

Watch as Tavares pulls off a silky triple-deke on Penguins defenceman Paul Martin and gets a great shot off on Vokoun. Martin ends up swatting at the puck aimlessly and missing repeatedly, like your nearsighted aunt trying to murder a housefly. Had Tavares beat the netminder, you’d be watching this play everywhere.

For some, the Islander’s slickness brought to mind vintage Jaromir Jagr; for others, Charlie Conway:

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