COLUMBUS — Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky knocked down 21 shots as the Columbus Blue Jackets held off a rally by the New York Islanders to win 6-4 on Thursday night.
Markus Nutivaara, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Seth Jones, Nick Foligno and Josh Anderson also scored for the Blue Jackets, who snuffed out a New York comeback attempt in the second and third periods that included a hat trick by wing Josh Bailey.
Columbus (20-11-1) has won 11 of their last 15 and is in a knot of teams battling for supremacy in the tough Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders (17-12-3) were a point behind Columbus and Washington coming into the game, but the Blue Jackets found various ways to beat Thomas Greiss, who finished the game with 29 saves. New York tied the score 3-3 in the second period, and pulled back within one in the final frame but couldn’t grab the lead.
Casey Cizikas also scored for New York, and John Tavares had two assists.
The Islanders have lost six of their last eight games.
New York Islanders’ Thomas Greiss, left, of Germany, protects the goal as teammate Nick Leddy, right, tries to take the puck away from Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/12/web1_119428942-b48ce60f8696481283d3124cdc1d2422.jpgNew York Islanders’ Thomas Greiss, left, of Germany, protects the goal as teammate Nick Leddy, right, tries to take the puck away from Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Artemi Panarin, right, of Russia, carries the puck across the blue line as New York Islanders’ Brock Nelson defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/12/web1_119428942-539266f1ea5b4c1687c34b0918790baa.jpgColumbus Blue Jackets’ Artemi Panarin, right, of Russia, carries the puck across the blue line as New York Islanders’ Brock Nelson defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Jack Johnson, left, tries to clear the puck as New York Islanders’ Jason Chimera defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/12/web1_119428942-1dce622681ec4b01902e7ff531361288.jpgColumbus Blue Jackets’ Jack Johnson, left, tries to clear the puck as New York Islanders’ Jason Chimera defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
