NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom scored 29 seconds apart late in the third period, helping the New York Islanders rally for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
David Rittich made 20 saves in New York’s second straight win. Miles Wood and defenseman Denton Mateychuk scored for Columbus, which beat St. Louis 3-2 on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win. Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves.
Schaefer tied the game at 2 with his second goal of the game with 1:07 to go. Holmstrom then tapped a loose puck past Merzlikins with 38 seconds left for his fourth goal of the season. After Holmstrom’s goal, Merzlikins slammed his stick over the crossbar in frustration.
Mateychuk had put Columbus ahead at 2-1 by backhanding the puck past Rittich at 12:10 of the third period. Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan earned assists on the goal.
The scoring opened 5:53 into the first period when Schaefer rifled a power-play shot past Merzlikins. The 18-year-old Schaefer has recorded 10 points in 12 games since being selected first overall in this year’s NHL draft. Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri assisted on the opening goal. Horvat leads the Islanders with 13 points, including seven goals.
Columbus tied the game at 1 on Wood’s fourth goal of the season at 15:19 of the second period.
The Islanders entered the game coming off a 3-1 win at Washington on Friday night, finishing a 1-2-1 road trip. Columbus has won six of eight games since starting the season 1-3-0.
Up next:
**Islanders:** Host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
**Blue Jackets:** Visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday to continue a five-game trip.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/hockey-game-stories/10136459/schaefer-stars-as-the-islanders-score-2-late-goals-to-edge-blue-jackets-3-2.html
