Islanders 3, Blue Jackets 1: Bo, Barzal and Holmes
It’s an intense divisional battle! | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
A second win in a row is the kind of thing that’s bound to happen now and then. The New York Islanders shocked Long Island by winning two in a row, with the Bo Horvat-Mat Barzal connection powering a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.
The victory brings the Isles to 2-2 on this seven-game homestand and keeps the Blue Jackets — who are still six points higher — out of the second wild card spot.
Horvat had two goals, Simon Holmstrom scored a shorthander in between them, and Ilya Sorokin returned to winning form while stopping 25 shots.
[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]
Things got off to a concerning start as Columbus was on the board inside five minutes, through their first power play of the game — timed perfectly as Brendan Burke was noting how the historically bad PK had been improving of late.
Sorokin was screened heavily on Kent Johnson’s shot, but he still drifted too far to his right to leave a lot of the far side of his net open.
The first period was otherwise steady, and no additional penalties meant no additional chances to dread the Isles’ special teams.
To be fair, however, the Isles’ special teams helped turn the game around in the second. They killed off three penalties — and scored a shorty — while converting on their only power play of the period. By the second intermission they were up 3-1, and they didn’t let that lead slip despite multiple missed empty net opportunities that tempted fate.
Back to the pivotal middle period, though: Horvat had nearly identical one-timers set up by Barzal. One was from behind the net after Barzal retrieved an Adam Pelech rim, then lofted a pass over Elvis Merzlikins’ paddle to Horvat, who fired upstairs from in close.
Great feed from Barzal to Horvat #Isles pic.twitter.com/jnEzyb54i0— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 21, 2025
That one made it 1-0; two minutes later, Holmstrom made it 2-0 by burying an opportunity created by a hilarious Zach Werenski toe pick.
Welcome back Simon Holmstrom! #Isles pic.twitter.com/zctRZMubVW— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 21, 2025
And 2:50 after that came the next Bo-Barzal connection, this time on the power play. Barzal, who was flying all night, circled the zone and shook Sean Kuraly free, causing Kuraly to lose his stick and then foolishly go to the corner to pick it up. With Kuraly out of the picture, Horvat was wide open as Barzal circled the net and fed him for another one-timer to make it 3-0.
Second time Barzy and Horvat connect tonight.Roy better not separate these guys. #Isles pic.twitter.com/BHhuLVKj7M— Isles Territory (@IslesTerritory) January 21, 2025
Holmstrom’s shorthander wasn’t Werenski’s only comic moment of the night; he also crashed into Merzlikins, which left Brock Nelson with one of his many golden chances on the night. But Merzlikins was able to overcome the check from his own defenseman to get a blocker up and stop Nelson.
As mentioned, several Islanders had chances to hit the empty net during the three minutes where Merzlikins was pulled for a sixth attacker. Sorokin had one great point-blank lead to preserve the two-goal lead. Overall the Isles were pretty good at killing the clock, but the missed empty netters were maddening per usual.
Quote of the Night
“The Islanders penalty kill, dare I say on the rise, they’ve killed 10 straight over their last six games...but that shot goes in.”
>>Brendan Burke, teeing up Columbus’ first period power play goal perfectly, without missing a beat
Up Next
Now there’s a little break, as the Isles aren’t back in action until Friday night for their second date with a Flyers. That starts a home back-to-back, with the Hurricanes visiting on Saturday....
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
