3 Takeaways: Islanders Fall 3-2 in Overtime to Columbus

The New York Islanders are leaving Columbus with a point after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.

Scott Mayfield scored the game's icebreaker, while Mathew Barzal's third-period strike sent the game into OT. Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves on 32 shots in the loss.
Patrick Laine scored the overtime winner for Columbus at 1:49, while Boone Jenner and Cole Sillinger also got on the board in regulation. Elvis Merzlikins backstopped his team to victory with 34 saves on 36 shots.
"I don't think we were at our best," Mayfield said of the loss. "But for 18 minutes of the second we played good hockey and then played well in the third. You want to get two points every night, but it's tough on the road and we have to find a way to get it done."
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STRONG SECOND PERIOD UNRAVELS IN THE SPAN OF 33 SECONDS:

Following a scoreless first period, the Islanders came out with a strong effort in the second period and to take a 1-0 lead, but that work was undone in the span of 33 seconds in the waning minutes of the frame.
Mayfield had delivered the game's icebreaker - and his first goal of the season as well as the first goal of the season from the Islanders' blueline - midway through the second period on a strong solo effort. The defenseman made a pinch on the wall before cutting into the slot and flipping a backhander on net. His shot deflected off Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly's stick and past Merzlikins.

But it was an uncharacteristic night for the Islanders regarding their discipline as they were assessed with four penalties in total, and that sparked a defensive meltdown that caused them to go from a 1-0 lead to a 2-1 deficit in the span of 33 seconds heading into the second intermission.
"Second period we dominated, especially zone time, and had some looks, for really 17 minutes of that period," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "We had two plays, one on the unnecessary penalty when they're dumping the puck in one on three just trying to get a line change because we had some zone time and take a penalty on it. In some ways it's unacceptable, it's just careless and they scored on it and got momentum. The shift after a goal is huge and we doubled in the corner, and they fed it out front. We were late to the party and all of the sudden a really good period that you'd wrap your arms around really for 17 minutes, to come out of that period 2-1."
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After going 0-for-3 on the power play, Columbus finally broke through late in the second period on Casey Cizikas' high-sticking penalty, which was his second penalty of the game. The Blue Jackets circled the puck from the left faceoff circle back up top to Jakub Voracek, whose shot from the point first deflected off Oliver Bjorkstrand and then Jenner before eluding Sorokin.
After tying the score 1-1, the Blue Jackets were swarming the Islanders on the subsequent shift and quickly took a 2-1 lead. Sillinger broke down the slot to connect with a backhanded pass from Vladislav Gavrikov, who was behind the net. Sillinger burst in the slot uncovered and zipped his shot to the far side of Sorokin for his first NHL goal.

ACTIVE GAME FOR BARZAL:

It was an active night for Barzal, who was an offensive threat and a driver for his line.
The centerman didn't just showcase his dynamic speed and skating, but was also revving up the offense, as Barzal rattled off a game-high nine shots. With Anders Lee back on his wing - after missing Tuesday's game against Chicago with an illness that was not COVID-19 related
- Barzal's line with Lee and Palmieri was a constant threat. The trio combined for 16 shots, with six coming from Lee.
"I think we controlled most of the game while we were out there," Barzal said. "I thought it was a pretty good game from our line. If we play like that, we're going to get two or three."
When the stakes grew, as the team was stunned by Columbus' back-to-back second period strikes, were in need of ushering a rapid response, Barzal did just that.
"We showed character getting it tied up," Trotz said. "[Barzal's] goal was created by [Matt Martin] staying in front and keeping people occupied and [Barzal] got it tied up."

Down by a goal, the Islanders came out in the third period on a mission with Barzal leading the charge. Upon entering the Blue Jackets' zone, Barzal collected a pass from Dobson, took his time and space and confidently wired in a top shelf shot past Merzlikins to provide the Islanders with the 2-2 equalizer.
Unfortunately, that drive was combated by a tenacious Blue Jackets group that held off the Islanders until OT.
In the extra period, the Islanders' play was promising as they dominated from the opening faceoff and were looking to take advantage of Sillinger, who was stuck out there without a stick. Columbus forced a turnover and charged up the ice and made a quick line change. Laine hopped over the boards, grabbd the puck, faked a drop pass and proceeded to release a blistering shot past Sorokin for the game winner.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to take advantage of the 3-on-3 when the guy broke his stick," Trotz said. "We wanted to attack the guy with the stick rather than the guy without the stick, which didn't make much sense to me."

TROTZ MIXES IT UP:

Due to illness and in need of sparking a change of pace among the group, the Islanders lineup on Thursday featured some changes.
While the Islanders got Lee back in the lineup, Jean-Gabriel Pageau did not dress in Thursday night's game against Columbus under similar circumstances. It was announced during warmups prior to the game that Pageau was sick, and his illness was not COVID-19 related. Trotz confirmed post-game that Pageau's symptoms were 'exactly like Lee's.

In Pageau's place, Kieffer Bellows remained in the lineup. Zach Parise occupied Pageau's normal spot down the middle and skated in between Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom.
The Islanders' blueline featured a new look as Trotz re-worked the d-pairs, utilizing some of the changes he had implemented on Tuesday night at Chicago. The new pairs deployed Adam Pelech with Mayfield, Zdeno Chara with Ryan Pulock and Andy Greene with Noah Dobson.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders' road trip continues west as they head out to the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.