Photo: NHL via Getty Images

While the Washington Capitals were resting in their hotel rooms in New York on Thursday night as they prepare for their huge game against the former head coach Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders, who they currently share the Metropolitan Division lead with 79 points with, tomorrow night, the Islanders were in action against former captain John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live/Nassau Coliseum. This was Tavares’ first time visiting the Coliseum as a visitor after he signed a seven-year contract worth $77 million ($11 million AAV) with the Maple Leafs on July 1.

The Islanders fanbase wore their No. 91 jerseys to the game, even though they didn’t have Tavares’ name on them anymore.

Meanwhile jersey watch is apparently taken a different turn on Long Island. pic.twitter.com/HjmUDhmP2w

— D.B. UFA (@38Shoeless) March 1, 2019

The Islanders fans at Nassau Coliseum showed Tavares that the team is fine without him even though he could see that by looking at the current standings.

pic.twitter.com/axpasWGtwt

— Flintor (@TheFlintor) March 1, 2019

Throughout the first period, the boos rained from the stands whenever the former Islanders captain touched the puck.

.@rayferrarotsn on fans’ reception for Tavares: ‘They’re going to boo, it’s going to be loud.’ WATCH: https://t.co/sCBDpymhpl pic.twitter.com/3NpdUbMFne

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 28, 2019

Despite the fact that this was not a playoff game, fans still had rally towels.

Yeah, it’s going to be a hell of a night at Nassau #Tavares @NYIslanders @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/Cu8KoaNtAe

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 28, 2019

In honor of their former captain, Islanders fans threw plastic snakes on the ice and one fan even threw a No. 91 New York jersey while he was exiting the pregame skate.

Here’s the Tavares snakes… imagine more things will be thrown during play. pic.twitter.com/J8loPMcv9M

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) February 28, 2019

Plenty of Islanders fans showed up at the Maple Leafs’ tunnel prior to warm-ups to greet Tavares. Unfortunately for him, it was not a positive greeting.

#Isles fans greet John Tavares and the #Leafs. pic.twitter.com/44kqutSJEw

— Newsday Sports (@NewsdaySports) February 28, 2019

One fan tailgating before the game put their Tavares’ Islanders jersey on the road and ran over it with their truck.

Some pre-game photographs of the @NYIslanders fans thoughts on Tavares before his return back to Long Island.

This is gonna be a doozy. pic.twitter.com/jhwWIquJXb

— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) February 28, 2019

While some fans were tailgating, they burned their No. 91 Islanders jerseys.

John Tavares jerseys and shirts are being burned in effigy at Nassau Coliseum ahead of his return to face the Islanders as a Toronto Maple Leaf. #NHL https://t.co/HnZCyMtUiw pic.twitter.com/O8TUPQghZf

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 28, 2019

Isles fans are burning their old Tavares jerseys. 👀💀

(🎥: @JustinWaltersTV) pic.twitter.com/P0YoY6JX5U

— theScore (@theScore) February 28, 2019

Despite a less than ideal welcome from the fans, the organization did not participate in any part of that as they prepared a tribute video for their former captain.

John Tavares acknowledges and applauds the Islanders fans after his tribute despite boos and name-calling pic.twitter.com/Rlgoie6yH9

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 1, 2019

Islanders fans booed Tavares every time he touched the puck.

Take note, D.C. This is not how Bryce Harper should be greeted when he returns as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, April 2.

By Harrison Brown