Columbus 5, NY Islanders 4
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 11, 2015
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees:
Justin St. Pierre, Eric Furlatt
Linesmen:
Steve Barton, Andy McElman
Attendance:
16170
By The Sports Xchange
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Centers Alexander Wennberg and right winger Cam Atkinson scored in the shootout Saturday as the Columbus Blue Jackets spoiled the New York Islanders' final regular season game at Nassau Coliseum with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory.
The Blue Jackets' stunning win -- they were down 3-1 early in the third -- forces the Islanders to begin the playoffs on the road at the Washington Capitals either Wednesday or Thursday. The Islanders would have hosted the Capitals with a win. Instead, New York -- which begins play at Brooklyn's Barclays Center in October – will host Games 3 and 4.
Columbus (42-35-5) finishes the season with three straight wins and 12 wins in its final 13 games (12-0-1). The Blue Jackets were 16-2-1 in their last 19 games.
The Islanders (47-29-6) haven't won consecutive games since Feb. 24-27. They ended the season with just six wins in their final 19 games (6-8-5).
New York is seeking its first series win since 1993.
The Islanders took a 3-1 lead on goals by little-used left winger Eric Boulton and center John Tavares, the Islanders' captain, in a 55-second span early in the third.
The details of Boulton's goal -- in which he put back the rebound of a shot by center Tyler Kennedy -- were still being announced over the PA when Tavares' shot sailed over the right shoulder of Blue Jackets goalie Curtis McElhinney and caromed into the back of the net.
Minutes later, the sellout crowd of 16,170 -- many of whom began tailgating in the Coliseum parking lots Saturday morning -- began chanting "We want home ice."
But the Blue Jackets began to ruin the party when center Brandon Dubinsky and Wennberg scored in a 94-second span. Dubinsky's goal ticked off the right pads of goalie Jaroslav Halak while Wennberg's score capped a flurry of shots by Columbus.
Islanders center Nikolay Kulemin scored with 4:24 left, but Columbus tied it again on Scott Hartnell's extra attacker goal with 1:35 remaining.
McElhinney had 48 saves in regulation and overtime while Halak recorded 33 saves in the first 65 minutes.
A stirring pregame ceremony that included a montage of all-time Islanders highlights set to "Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins and a ceremonial first puck drop by the wife of legendary Islanders coach Al Arbour gave way to a feisty first period.
The two teams combined for three pushing-and-shoving matches and 10 penalties before a last-minute brawl between the Islanders' enforcer, Boulton, and Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout.
The Islanders outshot the Blue Jackets 20-10 in the first, but Columbus took the lead on right winger Cam Atkinson's goal with 9.9 seconds left. Center Boone Jenner's shot bounced off Halak and to Atkinson, who tucked it into the empty left corner of the net.
It was the third straight game in which the Islanders surrendered a goal in the final 10 seconds of a period.
Islanders right winger Kyle Okposo tied the score with 8:58 remaining in the second, when he took a nifty feed from center Josh Bailey behind the Blue Jackets' net and beat McElhinney.
NOTES: The Islanders scratched four players with undisclosed injuries -- D Travis Hamonic, LW Matt Martin, G Michael Neuvirth and C Frans Nielsen -- as well as D Matt Donovan and RW Colin McDonald. ... The Edmonton Oilers will become the next team to vacate its current home when they leave Rexall Place for Rogers Place after next season. ... The Blue Jackets scratched RW Rene Bourque (back) and RW David Clarkson (oblique) as well as RW Jared Boll, D Justin Falk, D Ryan Murray and RW Corey Tropp. ... The Blue Jackets played just their 10th game at the Coliseum -- the second fewest of any NHL team behind the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators.
Top Game Performances
| Columbus |
|
NY Islanders |
|
Scott Hartnell 2 |
Points |
Nikolay Kulemin 2 |
|
Scott Hartnell 1 |
Goals |
Nikolay Kulemin 1 |
|
Scott Hartnell 1 |
Assists |
Nick Leddy 2 |
|
Cam Atkinson 1 |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Curtis McElhinney .923 |
Save Percentage |
Jaroslav Halak .892 |
|
Curtis McElhinney 48 |
Saves |
Jaroslav Halak 33 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Columbus
|
37 |
5 |
1-3 |
3-3 |
17 |
31 |
| NY Islanders
|
52 |
4 |
0-3 |
2-3 |
17 |
36 |
For more information, contact us