Game Preview: Islanders at Blue Jackets

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-4-2) VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (4-3-1)

19:00 | ARENA NATIONWIDE

WATCH: MSGSN | MSG+ | ESPN+

TO LISTEN: 88.7 FM | 103.9 FM | ISLANDERS + UBS ARENA APP

The New York Islanders completed a back-to-back series by visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night in the first of three Eastern Conference road games.

The Islanders are looking to get back on track after a 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. Mathew Barzal’s power-play goal was the only score by the Isles, who allowed the Ducks to score a pair of power-play goals. The loss ended the Isles’ six-game winning streak against Anaheim and extended their current losing streak to two.

The Islanders outscored the Ducks 41-22 on Tuesday night and outshot the Ducks 91-50, but after coming up short offensively, they welcomed the chance to face a division rival head-to-head.

“This is what it looks like now, but it’s up to us to change it,” said Bo Horvat. “No one else can go out there and do it and no one will feel sorry for us. It’s up to us to change that, and we have guys in this room who can do it.

New York is 9-0-2 in their last 11 games against Columbus, including a 5-0-2 record in their last seven trips to Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets have collected five of a possible six points in their last three games, most recently posting an emphatic 6-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Cole Sillinger scored three points (1G, 2A) and Sean Monahan (2G), Adam Fantilli (1G, 1A), Mathieu Olivier, Mikael Pyyhtia and Sean Monahan scored to make it 6-0, and Edmonton’s Mathias Ekholm scored in last minute to prevent exclusion.

Last season, the Islanders won the series against the Blue Jackets (3-0-0)