COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Islanders put a bad first period behind them and were able to break through against rookie goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
Cal Clutterbuck scored the winning goal in the shootout, lifting the Islanders to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
“I didn’t have any voice left after the first period,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. “It was embarrassing the way that we played. Our compete level was non-existent and I told them. It was unacceptable. I think the second and third period, we responded, we played good.”
Frans Nielsen also scored in the shootout and Jaroslav Halak stopped three of four attempts by Columbus. Alexander Wennerg had the Blue Jackets’ lone shootout goal.
Clutterbuck roofed a shot to end it.
“The shootout is such a hit-or-miss thing,” he said. “It’s basically about who’s got more patience and who freezes who quicker. It’s just one of those things. You try to make a good move and if the puck goes in, it goes in.”
After Korpisalo stopped 17 shots in a scoreless second period, the Islanders finally broke through when Anders Lee tied it early in the third period. Kyle Okposo sent the puck down low and Lee worked a nice forehand-to-backhand move before sliding the puck between Korpisalo’s legs.
Ryan Strome also had a goal in regulation for the Islanders, who earned their second win in a row and avoided their first three-game road losing streak in two seasons.