Barry Melrose on Tavares’ Candidacy for MVP [AUDIO]

Islanders center John Tavares scored the game-winning overtime goal against the Capitals to chants of "M-V-P" at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. So, Barry Melrose, is Tavares going to win the MVP?

"He certainly is in the running," said Melrose, with Armen and Levack, on 104.5 The Team. "It’s hard not to give it to Carey Price. What about Alex Ovechkin? He won the scoring race by 12 goals. But certainly Tavares is in the running and in the conversation for any MVP talk."

Tavares has been instrumental in the Islanders 2 to 1 game lead against the Caps, with one goal and two assists so far in the series.

"He’s one of those special guys," said Melrose. "He’s like a Crosby, he’s like an Ovechkin. He might win the MVP this year. He almost won the scoring race. He was the first pick overall so it’s not like he’s a surprise. But he’s kept growing and growing, and he’s become a leader. He’s a guy to where when the Islanders need something to happen, he’s normally in the middle of it."

The Islanders play the Capitals in game 3 on Long Island, Tuesday night at 7:30pm EST.