Blue Jackets defeat Islanders for fifth straight win

Vladislav Gavrikov broke a tie with 3:29 remaining, and the Columbus Blue Jackets won their fifth straight game, 3-2 against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Monday.

Gavrikov scored on a rebound of Alexandre Texier's shot from the right circle for his second goal in as many games.
"There were a couple of lucky bounces for us, but it doesn't matter, we won," Gavrikov said.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Islanders highlights]
Joonas Korpisalo made 35 saves for Columbus (17-14-6), which extended its point streak to eight games (6-0-2) heading into the Christmas break. Korpisalo has been the goalie of record in all eight (1.68 goals-against average, .942 save percentage) to set his NHL-best point streak.
"He gives the team confidence the way he is playing, and the team responds by playing really well in front of him," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said.
Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, and Thomas Greiss made 32 saves for New York (23-9-3), which has lost three straight at home (0-2-1) and is 1-2-1 in its past four heading into the Christmas break.
"I'm really disappointed. I thought we should have gotten a point," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I take nothing away from Columbus; they're playing really well. They're missing some pieces from their team up front, but their young guys systematically are working very hard."
Anders Lee gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 6:17 of the first period after a pass from behind the net by Barzal. It was Lee's second goal in as many games.

Kevin Stenlund tied it 1-1 at 6:18 of the second period with his second goal in his fifth NHL game; both have been scored on the power play.
Nathan Gerbe gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead at 9:34 of the second with his first goal since March 10, 2016, when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes. Gerbe was recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Sunday to replace injured forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.
"When you're playing on a line with (Nick) Foligno and (Alexander) Wennberg, I just wanted to play my game and use my speed to help those guys out," Gerbe said.

Barzal extended his goal streak to three games when he scored on a wraparound at 13:40 of the second to tie it 2-2. It was his team-leading 16th goal of the season.
"They got a bounce late, we had a couple of posts. That's how it goes sometimes," Barzal said. "There were stretches where there was good stuff. Other times, not so much."

They said it

"I thought it was one of the harder fought games by both teams this year. Some hitting, a little bit of bite to it. Both teams had a chance to score on the power play in the third period, the penalty kill comes through." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella
"We're making mistakes that are ending up in the back of our net. We have to find a way to clean those up, because it's uncharacteristic of us." -- Islanders forward Jordan Eberle

Need to know

Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois extended his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists). Defenseman Zach Werenski has a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists). … Columbus has outscored opponents 13-2 over the past eight third periods. … Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard played 21:06 after missing the previous two games because of an illness. … Tortorella coached his 1,294th NHL game to tie Jacques Martin for 13th on the all-time list. … Islanders forward Andrew Ladd had 9:53 of ice time in his first NHL game since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on March 24. … Eberle had two assists; he has a goal and eight assists in the past seven games, and five assists in the past two. … Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield did not play because of an illness. … New York forward Michael Dal Colle (upper body) returned after missing four games and played 12:47. … Lee has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past 11 games.

What's next

Blue Jackets: At the Washington Capitals on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Islanders: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV)