Difference Between Varlamov & Sorokin Every next game is the biggest game of the season for the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-collin-graf-quinnipiac-san-jose-sharks]. After sweeping their back-to-back situation earlier in the week, the Islanders headed into Columbus to face a Blue Jackets team with the potential to be in a playoff spot come Friday morning with a win and a Washington Capitals regulation loss. Both things came to fruition as the Islanders held on to beat the Blue Jackets 4-2 on Thursday night, while the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Capitals 4-1. Here's how it happened: Pierre Engvall gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 7:53 of the first period while on the power play after he tipped home a Ryan Pulock point shot from the top of the crease for his ninth of the season: Kyle Palmieri earned the secondary assist. The Blue Jackets answered with a power-play goal of their own less than two minutes later after Kirill Marchenko fed Dmitri Volkolov at the net front, who tapped the puck in for his 18th goal of the year: Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, who turned the puck over earlier in the shift, failed to box Volkolov out. The Islanders retook the lead at 13:48 of the first after Bo Horvat buried a backhand saucer pass on a 2-on-1 rush for his 32nd goal of the season: Romanov earned the secondary assist. With 2:38 to play in the opening frame, Marchenko lifted Noah Dobson's stick behind the Islanders' net before banking the puck off of Ilya Sorokin's mask and in for his 21st of the season to tie the game at 2-2: Blue Jackets starting goalie Daniil Tarasov left the game before the end of the first after his defenseman, rookie David Jiricek, collided with him, causing an upper-body injury. In came rookie goalie Jet Greaves, who only had four NHL appearances under his belt. Noah Dobson solved Greaves at 3:20 of the third period, sniping him blocker side from inside the right dot to give New York a 3-2 lead: Barzal and Romanov each collected their second assist of the night. Palmieri iced the game with 38 seconds to play in regulation after he scored on the empty net for his 25th of the season to make it a 4-2 game late. UP NEXT: The Islanders host Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at 7 PM ET. LINES: Casey Cizikas -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal Pierre Engvall -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom Matt Martin -- Kyle MacLean -- Cal Clutterbuck Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson Mike Reilly -- Robert Bortuzzo Ilya Sorokin Semyon Varlamov
