NEW YORK (WFAN) — After two double-overtime thrillers in recent days — and some well-deserved celebrating — Islanders hero John Tavares said he was catching up on some rest Monday.

Tavares’ wraparound Sunday night lifted the Islanders over the Florida Panthers, giving the franchise its first playoff series win in 23 years.

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“It was obviously a long time coming, and we know how much our fans have been wanting that one and how much they deserve it,” the Islanders’ captain told WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Monday. “It’s been obviously a lot of tough times and ups and down, and we were finally able to overcome that hurdle. Obviously want to enjoy it, but I think now, even already today, you start looking ahead, and we want to keep this thing going as long as we can, obviously get the ultimate goal.”



Tavares played Game 6 with noticeable determination, scoring a goal in the final minute of regulation to force overtime and then coming up with the game-winner.

“Obviously I play a big role on the team, big responsibility,” he said after noting that his teammates also pulled their weight. “Being the captain, you just want to go up there and play as hard as you can, play the right way and obviously try to do what I do best and create opportunities. You want to play right up to the end. You never quit. You never give up. It wasn’t our best game yesterday — and it certainly wasn’t mine for good stretches of that game. You just have to, especially in playoff hockey, you have to stay with it. You never know when it’s going to come.”

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The Islanders advance to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game dates and times have not yet been announced.

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