Saturday night began a stretch of five straight games, 10 out of 12, in the month of February that the Columbus Blue Jackets play within the Metropolitan Division.
Here is how things went tonight with the New York Islanders from Brooklyn.
First Period
Columbus spent the majority of the first period in the Islanders zone, recording the first four shots of the game inside the first minute of play. At one point, Columbus held a 15-5 shots advantage, less than eight minutes in.
The name of the game, though, is to put the puck in the net, and it was Josh Anderson and the power play that came up big first. Pierre-Luc Dubois earned the primary assist. Jussi Jokinen also assisted on the play, picking up his first point as a Blue Jacket.
#CBJ playing outstanding right now. The Islanders are the worst defensive team in league both goals and shots against. This is to be expected.
But whatever the Jackets are doing, it’s working.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) February 4, 2018
PLD ➡️ JUSSI ➡️ ANDY pic.twitter.com/ocYdaIk3al
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 4, 2018
The Islanders tied the score at one when Nick Leddy scored on the power play, his seventh this season, and first in 31 games. Islanders’ Jaroslav Halak stopped 25 shots in that first period.
Gameflow … entirely #CBJ
Score: 1-1
Hockey. pic.twitter.com/24z1c1fPYo
— Brian Hedger (@JacketsInsider) February 4, 2018
Goal Summary
Columbus – Josh Anderson PPG
Pierre-Luc Dubois A
Jussi Jokinen A
Islanders – Nick Leddy PPG
John Tavares A
Mathew Barzal A
Shots 26-12 Columbus
Second Period
Outscored 56-42 in the second period this season, the Jackets would like to have buried more goals than their lone first-period marker. But instead, it was Josh Bailey (13) who scored, giving the Islanders the lead. Anthony Beauvillier’s slap shot from the point was sent home by Bailey’s extended tip on Joonas Korpisalo’s doorstep.
However, Cam Atkinson and the Blue Jackets responded just over a minute later. Atkinson’s goal from the slot was his eighth, and he now has a nine-game point streak against the Islanders.
let er rip pic.twitter.com/H3BHlOwiYu
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 4, 2018
ate in the second period, Nick Foligno rebounded from a disappointing benching Friday night. As Bailey’s pass was intercepted by Oliver Bjorkstrand in the Columbus zone, Foligno took the up-ice pass from Bjorkstand for the breakaway and resulting goal. It was his 10th of the season, and the Jackets had reclaimed the lead.
Goal Summary
New York – Josh Bailey G
Anthony Beauvillier A
Ryan Pulock A
Columbus Goal – Cam Atkinson G
Artemi Panarin A
Nick Foligno G
Oliver Bjorkstrand A
Shots 16-14 New York
Third Period
It’s never easy.
Jordan Eberle scoring his 18th early in the third period proved that. Or really, the play leading up to that as Seth Jones’ attempt at clearing the zone evaded Matt Calvert. Eberle buried the shot from the slot and the game was tied once again, this time at three.
Brock Nelson, buried the eventual game-winner, giving the Islanders their second lead at the time, 4-3, and the Islanders had two goals in 2:25.
That was all she wrote.
Goal Summary
New York – Jordan Eberle G
Casey Cizikas A
Mathew Barzal A
Brock Nelson G
Andrew Ladd A
Ryan Pulock A
Shots 10-9 New York
We will have the full recap in the morning.
Final Score:
Islanders 4 Blue Jackets 3