Bailey scores in OT as Islanders beat Blue Jackets 4-3 for first win at Nationwide Arena

By AP
Saturday, March 27, 2010

Isles top Blue Jackets for first time in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Josh Bailey scored 2:58 into overtime to send the New York Islanders to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

In the extra period, Columbus defenseman Mike Commodore got caught pinching deep in the Islanders zone. Mark Streit broke down the ice on an odd-man rush, sliding the puck into the slot for John Tavares, who dropped it to Bailey. The speedy center wasted little time snapping a low-shot past Mathieu Garon from inside the left circle for his 15th goal of the season.

Kyle Okposo, Sean Bergenheim and Jon Sim scored in regulation for New York, which won for the first time at Nationwide Arena in its sixth attempt. It was the only NHL arena where the Islanders had not registered a victory.

New York picked up only its second road victory since Jan. 18 despite squandering a two-goal lead. The Islanders are (2-10-1) away from home during that span.

Rick Nash had a goal and an assist, and RJ Umberger and Grant Clitsome scored for Columbus.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the third, Nash and Clitsome scored 45 seconds apart early in the period to give the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead. Nash put home a giveaway by Streit just 33 seconds into the third on a pass from Kristian Huselius for his 31st goal. Clitsome followed with a wrist shot from the left circle for his first NHL goal.

Sim evened it up with his 11th from the top of the crease, redirecting Jack Hillen’s centering pass from the left corner three minutes later.

The Islanders struck twice 62 seconds apart early in the first period to take the lead.

On a strange sequence, Matt Moulson fired a long shot from the left boards off the post that ricocheted to Okposo at the right circle. He launched another long shot, this one beating Garon high and under the crossbar. The puck quickly sprung off the inside netting while Garon bumped the goal cage off its mooring with his shoulders trying to make the save. The play was reviewed and goal upheld.

Tim Jackman wiggled free from defenseman Clitsome and let loose a spin-around shot from near the slot that was redirected by a tightly marked Bergenheim, who stuck out his stick blade for a goal.

Umberger put Columbus on the board just 52 seconds into the second period, redirecting Nash’s shot from the right point for a power-play goal.

Late in the period, Roloson robbed Nash from the doorstep while down on the ice, reaching backward to make the glove save on what may have been the play of the game.

NOTES: The Blue Jackets were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs on Friday. … Columbus leads the all-time series 7-2-3. … Beset by injuries to their blue line corps, Islanders D Anton Klementyev made his NHL debut as the second emergency recall in three days for New York. … New York was a season-high three games above .500 and in the playoff chase before their road woes began. … The Blue Jackets were not whistled for a penalty, marking a first in franchise history.

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