Bjorkstrand, Dubois Lead Blue Jackets Past Islanders

NEW YORK (AP) — Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored power-play goals in the second period to give Columbus the lead, and the Blue Jackets went on to a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson scored in the third period, defenseman Zach Werenski had three assists as the Blue Jackets had a season-high 51 shots and won their second straight since an 0-4-1 skid. Bjorkstrand and Dubois had assists on each other's goals, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots.

John Tavares scored for the Islanders, who have lost six of their last eight (2-5-1).

Jaroslav Halak finished with a season-high 47 saves, including all 26 in another Columbus onslaught in the first period. He had 25 saves in the opening period against the Blue Jackets in the Islanders' 4-3 win here Feb. 3.

With Columbus holding a 2-1 lead, Bobrovsky preserved the advantage early in the third, using his left blocker hand after losing his stick to deny a great chance in close by Islanders rookie sensation Mathew Barzal.

Dubinsky put in the rebound of his wraparound try to push the Blue Jackets' lead to 3-1 at 6:01 of the final period. Atkinson made it a three-goal lead just 43 seconds later.

The Blue Jackets, last in the league on the power play coming in, went 2 for 4 with the man-advantage against an Islanders team that was second-worst in penalty-killing. Five of Columbus' 24 power-play goals this season have come in four games against the Islanders.

With just 8 seconds remaining on Nick Leddy's penalty for delay of game, Bjorkstrand tied it 1-1 on the power play at 6:02 of the second with a wicked slap shot from the inside edge of the right circle for his 10th.

Halak made a stellar glove save while sliding to his left on a shot by Alexander Wennberg with less than five minutes to go in the second.

Then, with New York's Brock Nelson off for hooking late in the period, Columbus' Zach Werenski hit the right goalpost with 1:10 remaining. However, Dubois put the Blue Jackets ahead 13 seconds later with their second power-olay goal of the period as his shot from the left circle went in off the left post for his 13th.

Columbus controlled play for most of the first period, outshooting New York 26-11 to tie the franchise record for shots on goal in an opening period set against the Islanders 10 days earlier.

The teams skated 4-on-4 for 33 seconds after Columbus' Jussi Jokinen was whistled for tripping with the Islanders' Ross Johnston in the penalty box. After Johnston's penalty expired, the Islanders went on the power play and took advantage 45 seconds later.

Anders Lee's backhand from the right doorstep was stopped by Bobrovsky, but the puck was loose in front and Tavares knocked it with 2:09 remaining in for his 29th of the season and 600th career point.

NOTES: The Blue Jackets have 226 shots on goal over their last five games, including 101 in the last two. ... Columbus has outshot New York by a combined 52-23 in the first periods of the last two games while getting outscored 2-1. ... Columbus won three of four in the season series, with the first win by the road team. The Blue Jackets won the first two meetings at home, 5-0 in the season opener on Oct. 6 and 6-4 on Dec. 14. The Islanders won here 4-3 on Feb. 3. ... Tavares became the sixth player in franchise history to reach the 600-point mark, joining Bryan Trottier (1,353), Mike Bossy (1,126), Denis Potvin (1,052), Clark Gillies (663) and Brent Sutter (610). .... The Islanders have allowed power-play goals in four straight games, falling to 7 for 12 on the penalty-kill in the stretch.

UP NEXT:

Blue Jackets: At Toronto on Wednesday night to close a two-game trip.

Islanders: Host the crosstown-rival Rangers on Thursday night to wrap a four-game homestand.

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