Tavares likely to miss Rangers game after concussion

After suffering what the team described as a mild concussion during the Islanders' 5-4 shootout loss to Dallas on Saturday night, John Tavares is unlikely to play Monday against the Rangers at the Coliseum.

Although coach Scott Gordon and teammates said Tavares seemed fine after the game, last year's No. 1 draft choice must pass a baseline test with the team's medical staff before being cleared to play.

"He seemed pretty good last night when he left - besides a stiff neck - but he'll have to be put through the standard protocol," Gordon said Sunday.

If Tavares, who rode a stationary bike Sunday, passes the baseline test Monday, he'll resume light activity. The best-case chance for his return? Probably Wednesday, when the Islanders face the Capitals in Washington.

"I told him, relax, it's fine, you'll probably play 79 games instead of 82," captain Doug Weight said. "He's chomping at the bit, but he's got 20 years of hockey left in him. I think he'll be back soon."

Tavares suffered the head injury late in the first period of the Islanders' opener when he was hit from behind by Stars winger Adam Burish while backchecking on a play. After the play, Tavares lay face down on the ice and appeared shaken before skating off with team trainer Garrett Timms. He did not return.

Burish did not receive a penalty on the play. The league has not said whether it is looking into the hit.

"I bumped into somebody and I didn't know who it was," Burish told reporters after the game. "I was coming across the ice and I knew our guy was going to dump it. Tavares turned around as I was skating that way and I think we collided. I didn't know what happened. I turned around as he was laying there. It was just an unfortunate thing. I for sure didn't mean to go after him in open ice. You hope he's OK."

"Whether he was trying to skate onside or not, [Burish] sees John clearly," Weight said. "Was he trying to whiplash him? No, but he could've avoided it and he didn't move out of the way of a player who didn't see him."

Assuming Tavares does not play, Josh Bailey will move to the first-line center position and newly acquired Michael Grabner will take Bailey's spot on left wing on a line with Weight and Nino Niederreiter.