Islanders' Tavares skating, cleared for full activity

New York Islanders captain John Tavares has been cleared to skate and his recovery from a knee injury that ended his 2013-14 season is going well, he told a Buffalo radio station Thursday.

"Everything's pretty much back to normal," Tavares told WGR 550 in Buffalo. "I was cleared last week to resume full activity, so I skated with the London Knights [of the Ontario Hockey League] as they're preparing for the Memorial Cup for three days and three practices, and I feel really good.

"I'm just happy I'm able to put this behind me, move forward, and look toward next season."

Tavares tore the MCL and meniscus in his left knee playing for Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The center finished as better than a point-per-game player for the first time in his five-season NHL career with 24 goals and 42 assists (66 points) in 59 games prior to the injury.