SATURDAY’S GAME
If there was a bright side to a disappointi n g evening for the Blue Jackets, it was located on the visiting bench Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
There sat the New York Islanders, who beat the Blue Jackets for the second time this season, in a 3-0 win that snapped the Jackets’ fourgame winning streak. It also padded New York’s lead in the Metropolitan Division by Blue Jackets at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m., FS Ohio two points. The team is atop the division despite being left at the altar last summer in free agency by former captain John Tavares.
“I think that put fuel on the fire for them,” Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said. “They play together, they play connected and they play for each other. You saw it tonight. Their work ethic is some of the best we’ve seen this year, for sure, each time we’ve played them.”
The Islanders signed a free agent last summer that counteracted the loss of Tavares, who had 272 goals and 621 points in nine seasons with the team.
His name is Barry Trotz. He coached the Washing- ton Capitals to the Stanley Cup last season, then hit the free-agent coaching market. It looks like a brilliant hire, with his proven defensive principles instantly transforming the Islanders into one of the stingiest teams in the league.
Their defense indeed was impressive, keeping the Blue Jackets to the outside, and the Islanders blocked 21 shots. Their goaltending, being split between Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, also was sharp with Greiss (17-8-2) making 31 saves for his third shutout.
“With Tavares leaving their team, everyone else had to step up and I think you can see (that) from how (good) they are as a whole group,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. “It’s hard to play against them.”
The bulk of the Islanders’ offense also was predicated on defense. New York took advantage of two defensive breakdowns by the Blue Jack- ets that led to breakaway goals for Casey Cizikas.
The fourth-line center scored 7:06 into the game, tucking the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky’s left skate, and put the second one through Bobrovsky’s pads at 5:50 of the second.
It was a familiar sight, after Cizikas also scored the winning goal Dec. 1 against the visiting Blue Jackets. New York has 74 points and a seven-point lead over the thirdplace Blue Jackets and fourthplace Pittsburgh Penguins — who each have 67.