Former B-Sens Fan Favorite Is a Big Part of Islanders’ Stanley Cup Push

Remember this guy? A pivotal part of the New York Islanders' campaign for the Stanley Cup has ties to the Southern Tier.

When Jean-Gabriel Pageau made his debut for the Binghamton Senators in 2012, I was at that game. I remember watching him skate and admiring his speed. After watching him play a few games I had a feeling it wouldn't take long for him to end up in Ottawa, but I wasn't sure how when he would join the big club for good because back then, Ottawa was stacked with talent.

He first got called up in the 2012/2013 season and scored two goals and two assists in nine games. Ottawa took notice. Two seasons later he stayed in Ottawa for good. He played with the big club for six years before being traded to the New York Islanders before the trade deadline this season.

So far in this year's playoffs, J. G. Pageau has been one of the Islanders best players. In the Islanders 11 playoff game so far, he has scored six goals and had two assists including the game-tying goal last night against Philadelphia with just over two minutes left in the third period. The Flyers would go on to win that game and even the best-of-seven series at one game a piece.

Pageau is also a great defensive player. In game 1 against the Flyers, not only did he score in that game too, but he made a bunch of great defensive plays to help his team win.

Game three in the best-of-seven series between the Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers was tonight at 7 p.m., but reports indicate all NHL games Thursday have been postponed in the wake of national protests over the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

[via: New York Islanders]