In Columbus, Noah Dobson snapped a 2-2 tie at 3:21 of the third period on Thursday night to help send the New York Islanders to a 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
The win pushed the Islanders ahead of the Washington Capitals for the second wild spot in the Eastern Conference. The Caps lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1, on home ice.
“I was just happy to contribute,” Dobson said. “Obviously, a big goal at a big time of the game. It’s nice to get that one and get a big win.”
Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves in the win.
The Islanders moved to 34-27-15.
“It does feel like a playoff game for us every night,” New York forward Mathew Barzal said. “We’re fighting for our season right now. These are the best games of the year really. This is why you play. Everyone comes together with one goal in mind and that’s to get in.”
The two teams traded doubles in the opening stanza.
Pierre Engvall staked the Isles to a 1-0 lead at 7:53, hitting off the power play.
The Blue Jackets replied with a power play strike of their own when Dmitri Voronkov scored at 9:45 to tie the game, 1-1.
Bo Horvat responded for the Islanders with a goal at 13:48 for a 2-1 lead to New York.
“Our mindset was really good,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “We didn’t get frustrated because it was a 2-2 game. … Team effort was really good. It was a big goal by Noah so I was happy to see him scoring that goal, but more than that the way he was playing defensively. He had a strong game defensively.”
Columbus tied the game, 2-2, with a strike by Kirill Marchenko at 17:22, he scored from behind the net after bouncing the puck off Sorokin’s mask.
“It happened so quick,” Marchenko said. “I remember [Sidney] Crosby goals like, six maybe, years ago. He scored two goals just shooting [at] the head. It’s in my head. I think about that. If I have opportunity, I try to do it.”
The Blue Jackets fell to 25-39-12.
“We have character in this group and we’re not going to give up,” Columbus’ Alexandre Texier said. “We’re going to play like it’s fighting for the playoffs. That’s how we should be. That’s our job. We are in the NHL, and we’ve got to do it.”
Kyle Palmieri hit an empty net with 38 seconds left on the clock for the 4-2 final count on the scoreboard. 
Daniil Tarasov got the start for the Blue Jackets, he made 13 saves before departing the ice with an apparent injury.
Jet Greaves made 24 saves in relief.
“It’s hard to see Daniil going down like this,” Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said. “He’s been playing so good, created some momentum for himself and for the team and just unfortunate.”
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