NEW YORK (WFAN) — John Tavares believes the Islanders’ slow start had nothing to do with increased expectations or a lack of effort.

Speaking to WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Wednesday, the Islanders star blamed the team’s 4-6-0 start on some bad puck luck and players then pressing too hard while trying to turn things around.

“I think certainly when things didn’t go our way in the first 10 games or so, things sometimes can snowball a little bit,” Tavares said. ” … And I think you start grabbing your stick a little bit too tight, maybe start trying to be a little bit too perfect, trying to reverse the course.”



The Islanders have been playing better lately, going 4-0-1 since Nov. 28.

MORE: Capellini: Islanders Finally Appear To Be Getting Their Act Together

“We just tried to make some adjustments, and as a group, we just continued to try to focus on having the right attitude and work ethic and working our way through it, and things are slowly starting to turn,” Tavares said.

Tavares insisted the Islanders didn’t let higher expectations get to them after finally winning their playoff series in 23 years last season.

“I think the expectations are always going to be there,” he said. “(It had) been a long time coming to win a playoff series, but I don’t think that’s where the expectation should be. I think we should be striving for a lot more. I think we always have been really since I’ve gotten here.

“I don’t know if that’s necessarily connected with why maybe things didn’t get off on the right start. Every year’s a new year, and you have different challenges and whatnot, and we’ve kind of had to find our way a little bit. And hopefully we can build on some good things and that can continue for us.”

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio player above.