Maple Leafs’ John Tavares records 1,100th career NHL point

John Tavares continues to cement his status as one of the all-time greats.

Facing the New York Rangers on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs alternate captain opened the scoring midway through the first period before later closing out the initial frame with a secondary assist on Bobby McMann’s 19th goal of the season. Not yet finished, Tavares added his second tally and third point of the night at the 4:16 mark of the second period. With the feat, Tavares recorded his 1,100th career point, becoming only the 68th skater in NHL history to reach the plateau.

Tavares now needs only four points to surpass former Maple Leafs great Frank Mahovlich for 67th place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

Entering Thursday’s contest, Tavares had made 61 appearances with the Maple Leafs this season in which he had recorded 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points. Originally chosen atop the 2009 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Tavares has totaled 1,171 career contests between the Islanders and Maple Leafs in which he has collected 485 goals and 615 assists to reach 1,100 points.

On five occasions, the 34-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., has scored 80 or more points highlighted by the 2018-19 campaign with the Maple Leafs that saw Tavares secure a career-high 88 points counting 47 goals and 41 assists coming in 82 games. Tavares has also added 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points through 62 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

A dominant performer in the junior ranks, Tavares was the first-ever player to be granted exceptional status, permitting him to join the Ontario Hockey League one year prior to his junior draft year. Across four seasons with the Oshawa Generals and London Knights from 2005-09, Tavares amassed 433 points counting 215 goals and 218 assists in 247 career games.