Matthew Schaefer tied the score with 1:07 left in the third period Sunday and Simon Holmstrom produced the game-winner just 29 seconds later for the host New York Islanders, who stunned the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 in Elmont, N.Y.
With goalie David Rittich pulled for the extra attacker, Schaefer was credited with his second goal after his shot from just in front of the blue line bounced off the stick of Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, skittered past New York center Anders Lee and went into the net.
Lee also factored into the game-winning goal. Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson turned the puck over after slipping behind the net. Lee eventually fired a shot off the right post that trickled behind Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins and along the goal line before Holmstrom poked it home with 38 seconds to play.
Schaefer, the reigning NHL Rookie of the Month, opened the scoring with a power play goal 5:53 into the first for the Islanders, who have won two straight following a three-game losing streak. The two-goal game is the first in the NHL for Schaefer, whom New York selected with the top pick in June’s draft.
Rittich made 20 saves.
Miles Wood scored late in the second and Denton Mateychuk put the Blue Jackets ahead shortly beyond the midway point of the third. Merzlikins recorded 36 saves as Columbus’ four-game winning streak ended.
The Islanders outshot the Blue Jackets 18-3 in the first, when Schaefer’s shot from the high slot sailed past Merzlikins as he was screened by teammate Ivan Provorov as well as New York center Kyle Palmieri.
The Blue Jackets tied the score with 4:39 left in the second. Adam Fantilli shook Schaefer at the goal line before whirling and passing to Wood, who got his stick on the puck and tucked it past Rittich despite being draped by Scott Mayfield.
Mateychuk put the Blue Jackets ahead with 7:50 remaining, when his backhanded rebound of a shot by Kirill Marchenko sailed past Rittich.
