Islanders Win 3rd Straight, Beat Blue Jackets 2-1

ELMONT, NY– The New York Islanders were not as dominant as they were their last two games, but pushed their win streak to three games as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1.

The Islanders are now back in a playoff spot and are 21-14-2 on the season.

LINES:

Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Hudson Fasching
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Casey Cizikas
Ross Johnston-Aatu Räty-Matt Martin

Parker Wotherspoon-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Cory Schneider

GOALS:

Jean-Gabriel Pageau gave the New York Islanders a 1-0 lead at 7:12 of the second period as he tapped home a puck that had squeezed past Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo after a Hudson Fasching shot. Fasching was credited with the lone assist on Pageau’s eighth goal of the season.

Mathew Barzal gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead at 16:39 of the second period as he finished off a Brock Nelson pass on the power play for his eighth goal of the season. Nelson and Pageau were credited with the assists.

Emil Bemstrom scored to ruin Sorokin’s shutout streak with 20.5 to go in regulation.

Barzal Snaps Power Play Drought

The New York Islanders entered Thursday night’s contest 0-for-25 on the power play and were in dire need of that streak to end. After going 0-for-2 on their first two chances of the night, Mathew Barzal came through on their third opportunity.

#Isles up by 2 after 2 pic.twitter.com/fVSyNeRciZ

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 30, 2022

Barzal now has three goals over his last two games and four over his last five as he is starting to find the back of the net at a much higher rate. He only had three goals in his first 31 games of the season.

Pageau’s Heads-Up Play

The New York Islanders needed someone to step up against Columbus, as despite more chances, the game was scoreless. Then Jean-Gabiel Pageau changed that as after making a tremendous stick play at the Islanders’ blue line, he skated with the puck before dishing it off to Hudson Fasching.

Fasching then went hard to the net, got a strong shot off, and Pageau cleaned up the loose puck.

Pageau with the steal, drop pass for Fasching who makes his move to the slot, and JGP buries it for the #Isles lead pic.twitter.com/uVN8CqOWVh

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 30, 2022

Shutdown Defense Yet Again

Heading into the contest, the New York Islanders had played a shutdown defensive style over their last two games, reminiscent of the Barry Trotz days. They had allowed 44 shots over two 5-1 win, first over the Florida Panthers and then over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Islanders allowed 21 shots and one goal.

UP NEXT: The New York Islanders are in Seattle to take on the Kraken on New Year’s Day, with puck drop at 8 PM ET.