Recap: Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 2

The New York Islanders beat one of the NHL's best teams with one of their best efforts, downing the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 at Barclays Center.
Down 1-0, the Islanders rallied for four straight goals taking over the game in the second and third periods en route to the win. The win was the Islanders' fourth in their last five games, extending their point streak to five games in the process.

"Top to bottom, one of the best efforts of the year," Interim Coach Doug Weight said. "We just played one of the best three teams in the league in the first half of the season. We did a pretty good job."

The Islanders started slow on Tuesday night, giving up the opening the goal to Nick Foligno 8:55 into the first period, but flipped a switch at the start of the second period. Josh Bailey scored his 100th career NHL goal 2:21 into the period, banking a cross-ice feed for Nikolay Kulemin off Seth Jones' skate and in. After that, the Islanders were off and running.
"It was pretty obvious I was trying to make the pass there," Bailey said. "Kulemin got open; it hit a skate and went in. When guys are getting to the net and you get pucks there, fortunate bounces do happen sometimes."

Kulemin was filling in for Anders Lee, who missed Tuesday's game with an illness, put the Islanders ahead 2-1, backhanding a blocked Calvin de Haan shot past Sergei Bobrovsky at 16:29.
"Kulemin really stepped up and played a great hockey game," Weight said. "He really stepped up and answered that role."

Brock Nelson extended the Islanders' lead 35 seconds in the third period, breaking a 10-game goalless drought with a snipe off the rush. Jason Chimera made it 4-1 shortly after, also beating Bobrovsky with a mid-range wrister for his 10th goal of the season. Chimera's goal ended Bobrovsky's night, as Joonas Korpisalo relieved the Blue Jackets' starter. Chimera finished the night one assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick, as the 37-year-old fought Lukas Sedlak in the first period.
"We just buckled down, we played better defensively, we played more structured in the neutral zone, [forced] turnovers and it led to a lot of time in their zone," Chimera said.

Cam Atkinson made it 4-2 with 5:21 to play in the third, but that's as close as the Blue Jackets' came. Thomas Greiss finished the night with 21 saves on 23 shots.
After the game, Chimera discussed the importance of the Islanders picking up another two points and extending their point streak.
"We just have to keep chugging along," Chimera said. "We dug ourselves a hole early this season and we're trying to get out of it. Guys have been playing well of late and we just have to keep on going. We have no time to rest, we're in playoff mode right now, we just have to keep on going."
The Islanders host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night in their last game before the All-Star break. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.