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

ELMONT, NY – The New York Islanders weren’t as dominant as they have been in their last two games, but extended their winning streak to three games after defeating 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-Matt 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 the puck past Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo on a Hudson shot. Fasching. Fasching was credited with the lone assist on Pageau’s eighth goal of the season.

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

Emil Bemstrom scored to snap 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 badly needing this streak to end. After going 0-for-2 in their first two chances of the night, Mathew Barzal came through in their third opportunity.

#Islands increases by 2 after 2 pic.twitter.com/fVSyNeRciZ

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

Barzal now has three goals in his last two games and four in his last five as he is starting to find the back of the net at a much higher rate. He had just 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 other chances, the game was scoreless. Then Jean-Gabiel Pageau turned it around after making a tremendous stick play on the Islanders’ blue line, skating the puck to Hudson Fasching.

Fasching then went hard to the net, took a hard shot and Pageau cleared the loose ball.

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

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

Lock protection again

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

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

NEXT: The New York Islanders are in Seattle to take on the Kraken on New Year’s Day, with the ball dropping at 8pm ET.