Columbus @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2019 ) Columbus 0, NY Islanders 2

The New York Islanders went more than two months without absorbing a regulation loss at home but they suddenly are having trouble winning in their own building while watching the opposition pile up goals at an alarming rate. The Islanders will look to avoid a third consecutive loss at home when they face the surging Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

New York's 13-game home point streak (12-0-1) and eight-game run at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum ended with a thud in an 8-3 shellacking by Nashville on Tuesday and the defensive lapses continued in Saturday's 6-5 shootout loss to visiting Anaheim. "We're in the winning business, not the points business," coach Barry Trotz said after the league's top defensive club suffered its first loss under him when scoring at least four goals (38-0-1). The injury-ravaged Blue Jackets, who have scored twice in losing both meetings to the Islanders, extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 5-1 rout of visiting New Jersey on Saturday. "The locker room has been awesome. It's been fun coming to the rink," defenseman Zach Werenski said after Columbus ran its point string to seven games (5-0-2). "We've got one more game here before Christmas and so hopefully end on a high note."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG-Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (16-14-6): Already missing nine players due to injury or illness Saturday, Columbus received another jolt Sunday when Oliver Bjorkstrand was placed on injured reserve and expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. Bjorkstrand had five goals in the last four games after scoring twice in Saturday's rout, tying Pierre-Luc Dubois for the team lead with 12, before suffering a rib-cartilage contusion and oblique strain. The team recalled Nathan Gerbe from Cleveland of the American Hockey League.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (23-8-3): Veteran forward Andrew Ladd, who has been sidelined for nine months since suffering a torn ACL that required surgery, skated on a line with Derick Brassard and Tom Kuhnhackl at Sunday's practice and is expected to rejoin the lineup for the first time since March 24. “I feel great,” Ladd said. “Especially the last five games, everything is starting to come together." With Cal Clutterbuck undergoing wrist tendon surgery, Casey Cizikas centered Ross Johnston and Komarov on the fourth line.

OVERTIME

1. Islanders C Mathew Barzal has five goals in his last nine games and two in two matchups versus Columbus this season.

2. Dubois has five points during a three-game streak and six (four goals, two assists) in 10 meetings versus New York.

3. Islanders G Thomas Greiss has allowed two goals in beating Columbus twice this season.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Blue Jackets 1