Blue Jackets edge Islanders in overtime

John Tortorella and Doug Weight were only a few feet away from each other.

The mental and emotional distance separating the coaches was another matter following a 3-2 victory by Columbus over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Cam Atkinson delivered the winner for the Blue Jackets 1:19 into overtime.

“I’m very happy with the way we played,” Tortorella said. “I’m happy to win a close checking one-goal game.”

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Josh Anderson scored 14 minutes, 48 seconds apart in the second period for Columbus, which won for the seventh time in March and improved to 46-18-6.

“We played really well,” said Tortorella, whose Blue Jackets moved to second in the Metropolitan Division race. “I like the way we competed.”

Weight wished he could say the same about his team.

Travis Hamonic and John Tavares scored for New York, which lost for the fourth time in five games (1-3-1).

“We just weren’t good,” Weight said.

This was the regular-season series finale for the Metropolitan Division rivals. When play began Saturday, the Islanders and Tampa Bay trailed Toronto by one point for the final Eastern Conference wild card berth.

With the overtime loss, New York tied Toronto with 78 points, but the Maple Leafs hold the second wildcard position because of fewer regulation losses. The Maple Leafs and Lightning play later Saturday.

Before the game, Tortorella said his team was prepared for New York to attack with heavy pressure. Instead, Columbus outshot New York, 38-22 and controlled much of the game.

Hamonic put New York ahead 1-0 with a slap shot at 14:18 of the first period. It was his first goal since Oct. 30 and his third of the season.

“You want to help out,” Hamonic said. “I know I can play better . ... I have to play better.”

That Hamonic was in position to give the Islanders a lead was due in part to the play of goaltender Thomas Griess, who made 12 of his 36 saves in the first period.

“(Greiss) kept us in it,” Weight said.

But there was nothing Griess could do on Bjorkstand’s tying goal a minute into the second period. The rookie right wing picked up the puck inside the blue line after New York defenseman Dennis Seidenberg lost it as he fell. He snapped a shot for his sixth goal of the season, over Griess’ glove from the right faceoff dot.