The Upshot: Islanders find a way in the third; defeat Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in OT

HOW IT HAPPENED

Another third-period comeback, but this time, of the one-goal variety. Scott Mayfield tied the game on a backhand at 12:51 of the third period, and Zach Parise scored just 39 seconds into overtime to lift the New York Islanders to a 4-3 OT win against the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena on Saturday night.

Brock Nelson had 10 shots on goal and scored twice, including late in the second period, to tie the game heading into the third. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves in the win for the Islanders (10-6-0), who have won eight of 10 games. For Columbus, D Marcus Bjork gave them a lead in the third with a goal in his NHL debut. Cole Sillinger and Emil Bemstrom had the other goals for Columbus (4-9-1) who have now lost six of seven games. Joonas Korpisalo was busy in net, making 41 saves in defeat.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

How about Sebastian Aho? The Islanders' sixth defenseman had the first two-assist game of his career against the Blue Jackets, getting points on each of Brock Nelson's goals through two periods. But he didn't earn an assist in perhaps his best and most consequential play of the game.

With the Islanders trailing 3-2 in the third, Aho stood at the blue line and kept the puck from leaving the zone with his right skate, absorbing a big hit in the process. That allowed the Islanders to maintain possession and led to Mayfield's equalizer.

WHAT WENT WRONG

I guess things have evened out, After not allowing a power play goal through thier first eight games of the season (setting a NHL record), the Islanders have allowed eight goals down a man in their last eight games and in seven straight.

"Everybody does their best to clear pucks and get pucks out and some and right now we're struggling at times in that area. There's no question that we do not want to give up powerplay goals like this."

On Saturday, it was Cole Sillinger (son of former Islander Mike Sillinger), who scored his first NHL goal against the Isles last October, who netted a power-play goal at 3:09 of the second period. The Islanders are 15-for-23 on the penalty kill over the past eight games after going 28-for-28 to open the season.

STATS OF THE GAME

Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Brock Nelson is the first Islander since John Tavares (1-22-2017 vs. Philadelphia) to have ten shots on goal in the game.  Nobody has had more since Wendel Clark had 11 on December 21, 1995, in Dallas.

Marcus Bjork is the first opponent to score against the Isles in his NHL debut since Justin Holl did so for Toronto on January 31, 2018

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

It was Hockey Fights Cancer Night, and during the first period, there was a beautiful and moving moment when fans all stood up and held out signs with the names of those in their lives who have been impacted by cancer. It's always a touching moment, and hockey does a great job of bringing awareness to the cause each season.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Islanders begin four-game road trip on Monday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Note the early start time of 5:30 p.m.