Sometimes, it's just not your night.
Tonight certainly wasn't the Columbus Blue Jackets' night, as they had no answer for the New York Islanders, losing 3-0 at home.
Columbus struggled for much of the game to get quality chances, and once they finally got a few, they couldn't get anything past Thomas Greiss, typically the backup goaltender for the Islanders. Defensively, the Islanders played a pretty good game, closing up shooting lanes for the Blue Jackets and blocking nearly 20 shots throughout the night.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ISLANDERS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Speaking of Greiss, he didn't just turn in a stellar performance in net, he also notched an assist on the first Islanders goal. Casey Cizikas lit the lamp twice for the Islanders, and Josh Bailey added to the lead in the second period as the Blue Jackets struggled to get any momentum going.
With the win, the Islanders extend their lead on the Metropolitan Division. After losing John Tavares this offseason – one of the biggest stars (scratch that – perhaps the biggest star) to ever hit free agency – the Islanders were expected by many to take a bit of a step back. Instead, they've been one of the league's best teams, thanks in large part to new coach Barry Trotz.
Injury Update
Brandon Dubinsky missed tonight's game due to the same injury that kept him out for the team's last road trip. He's considered day-to-day.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets will visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday before another measuring-stick game at home against the Eastern Conference's best team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Monday.
