Dec 7, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) reacts after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
ELMONT, N.Y. — For a New York Islanders team that couldn’t get out of their own way in third periods this season, they might have stumbled upon a new philosophical adage: The best defense is an aggressive offense.
“I totally agree with that,” Islanders forward Mathew Barzal told amNewYork when posed with that notion.
Carrying a 4-2 lead into the third period of Thursday night’s game against the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets, the Islanders flirted with disaster once again just 1:27 into the frame when the visitors’ rookie star Adam Fantilli popped home his second goal of the night after a slow-moving puck slid through the legs of a whiffing defenseman, Scott Mayfield, to make it a one-goal game.
Cue that familiar feeling of impending doom.
Just two nights prior on Tuesday against an equally-lowly San Jose Sharks, the Islanders blew a 4-1 third-period lead — allowing all three goals in a 6:35 span — before falling 5-4 in overtime. It was the 10th time this season that they squandered a lead in the last period and the fifth time they lost a game leading after two frames.
While the team preached playing more aggressively, they rarely showed it down home stretches of games, but Thursday night was different.
Barzal scored his second goal on a night in which he posted four points while Bo Horvat scored two in 20 seconds to put New York out of sight in a 7-3 victory over Columbus.
“I think sometimes, it’s in our gameplan and in our DNA to play good defense but our forward group can play with anybody and then we can score with anybody as we’re proving as of late,” Barzal said. “So sometimes, you have to let the doors open and let us go out there and win a game.”
Islanders exorcise some 3rd period demons, stomp Blue…
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