Tavares the All-Star - Tavares has 22 points (9g/13a) in his last 14 games, plus a goal and an assist in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. The Isles leading point scorer has five points in his last two games against the Canes. He picked up three assists in the Jan. 3, 4-3 shootout win, and scored both goals in a 2-1 overtime victory on Jan. 21.

Every Point Counts - The Islanders have points in four of their last five games, winning three straight over Washington, Philadelphia and Carolina. PA Parenteau salvaged a point with 12 seconds left against Toronto on Jan. 24 to give the Isles seven out of a possible 10 points before the All-Star break.

Killin’ It - The Islanders penalty kill has been stellar of late, successfully killing off 36 of 37 penalties and ranking eighth in the league. The power play hasn’t had a chance to hop over the boards in the last two games, but they’ve been a tough team to score on short-handed.

John Tavares scored two goals, powering the Islanders to a 2-1 overtime win over the Hurricanes on Jan. 21 at Nassau Coliseum. Tavares’s 18th and 19th tallies of the season extended his league-leading point streak to 12 games and the Islanders win streak to three-games. Jeff Skinner scored for the Canes while Cam Ward made 38 saves in the loss. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 32 of 33 for his fourth win in five games.

Daniel Alfredsson on John Tavares: “He has fantastic hands. He made some moves, both in the skills competition and in the game. And he can do it at a high speed, too, which is also impressive. If he stays healthy, he’s going to be a great player.”