This was the sort of effort which, if the Islanders could replicate it consistently, makes them look like a playoff contender.

Bo Horvat scored twice in the second period Monday night for the host New York Islanders, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 in Elmont, N.Y. Simon Holmstrom's short-handed goal in the second proved to be the game-winner for the Islanders,

Final Thoughts: The Islanders last faced the Blue Jackets on Oct. 30, when they were shut out 2-0. That was the game in which Mathew Barzal suffered his long-term upper-body injury. The gap between the Islanders and Columbus is eight points right now.

BOTTOM LINE: The Columbus Blue Jackets head to the New York Islanders in Metropolitan Division action on Monday. New York has a 4-5-2 record in Metropolitan Division games and an 18-20-7 record overall. The Islanders have a 7-1-1 record when scoring a power-play goal.

The Isles scored a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena, closing the gap from eight points to six against a team that started the day in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The New York Islanders (18-20-7) play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-17-7) on Monday night on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in UBS Arena. The holiday game features the Islanders coming off a strong 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

The Blue Jackets continue a four-game road trip as they visit Long Island tonight to play the last-place Islanders. The Blue Jackets did something against the Rangers that they've only done one other time this entire season - Failed to score a goal.

Backed by Sorokin's 25 saves, the Islanders defeated the Blue Jackets 3-1 in a key divisional matchup. ELMONT NY -- Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Islanders defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-1 at UBS Arena Monday night.

The New York Islanders (19-20-7) took over a second straight game in the second period, bowling over the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-18-7). The game finished X-1, with Bo Horvat’s second-period pair lifting the Islanders to the win.

The Blue Jackets never quite got going in a lackluster 3-1 loss to the Islanders to end their seven-game point streak.

January 21 - Bo Horvat scored twice in the second period Monday night for the host New York Islanders, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets ... New York's Anders Lee was whistled for tripping ...