Bailey and Tavares score 2 each in Isles' win over Blue Jackets
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Josh Bailey scored two goals in the first period, John Tavares had two goals and two assists, and the New York Islanders fought off two rallies by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 victory on Saturday night.
Tavares set up Bailey twice early and then gave New York two- and three-goal leads in the third. The Islanders have won four straight and six of seven. Ryan Strome and Frans Nielsen also scored, and Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves.
Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson, and Nick Foligno had goals for Columbus, which beat Philadelphia at home on Friday. Anton Forsberg stopped 40 shots as Columbus began a five-game trip.
Nielsen put the Islanders ahead for good when he converted Thomas Hickey's slap pass 1:54 into the third for his first goal in 13 games. Tavares made it 5-3 with 12:52 remaining and then gave New York a three-goal lead -- off an assist from Bailey -- with 8:45 left on his 26th goal.
The resilient Blue Jackets, who won Friday for the first time this season when trailing after two periods, got even 3-3 by scoring in the final minute for the second straight period Saturday.
Scott Hartnell carried the puck down the left side and sent a pass out front to the driving Foligno for his 22nd of the season with just 31.2 seconds remaining.
The Islanders had gone in front 3-2 at 7:02 when a turnover by Kevin Connauton led to a shot by Lubomir Visnovsky. Strome put in the rebound for his 10th goal. The Islanders outshot Columbus 17-7 in the second.
New York came out flying and threatened to run the Blue Jackets out of the arena. The Islanders scored on their first shot and Bailey made it 2-0 at 8:21.
Then it all changed.
After dominating the first half of the period at even strength, the Islanders generated little while up a man. They held an 8-2 edge in shots at one point, but the Blue Jackets found their legs and quickly got back into the game.
Dubinsky cut the deficit in half with 4:15 left in the period with his fifth of the season and second in two nights. The Blue Jackets got even with 31.5 seconds remaining following an Islanders miscue. Defenseman Brian Strait gave up the puck at his blue line, and Atkinson took it in alone and scored his 13th.
New York also squandered a two-goal lead at home to Toronto on Thursday before pulling out a 3-2 victory. This one started even better as Bailey and Tavares connected twice in less than 9 minutes to make it 2-0.
Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson turned over the puck behind his net to Tavares, who flung it in front. The puck caromed off Anders Lee to Bailey, who was alone in front for the goal at 1:07 on the Islanders' first shot.
Johnson was again involved with Tavares, who held off the defensemen as he carried behind the net. He sent a pass along the blue line to Bailey, who from an improbable angle to Forsberg's left squeezed in his 11th goal.
NOTES: Dubinsky had gone nine games without a goal before Friday. ... Forsberg played for the second time in six games but it was just his fourth appearance of the season. ... Halak made his 12th start in 14 games.
