Bo Horvat scored twice in New York’s three-goal second period, and the Islanders beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1.

The Islanders, seven points behind the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, moved within six points of the surging Blue Jackets and improved to 2-2-0 on their seven-game homestand, which continues Friday night against the Flyers.

Kent Johnson scored for the Blue Jackets (22-18-7), who had their seven-game point streak end (6-0-1). Elvis Merzlikins made 22 saves.

This was the sort of effort which, if the Islanders could replicate it consistently, makes them look like a playoff contender.

Bo Horvat scored twice in New York’s three-goal second period, and the Islanders beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Monday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored twice in New York's three-goal second period, and the Islanders beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Monday night. Simon Holmstrom also scored and Mathew Barzal ...

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Horvat scored a goal on three shots in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Avalanche. Horvat's point streak is up to six games (five goals, three assists). His third-period tally also stood as the game-winner.

Captain Boone Jenner, who has been out all season after suffering a shoulder injury at the end of training camp, got a clean bill of health from doctors, allowing him to join the Blue Jackets last Saturday for a morning skate before they played the Los Angeles Kings.

In the sixteenth weekly Metropolitan Division snapshot, the Carolina Hurricanes made a huge trade, five teams won their week, and the New York Islanders are out of the basement. All this and more in this week’s snapshot.

Yes, his most recent former coach opined, it was surprising that it took controversial defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who made his Islanders debut on Saturday night, this long to find a new job in the NHL.

But as a blockbuster trade Friday indicated, the Hurricanes are getting tired of coming up short of the ultimate prize -- and they are willing to do just about anything to hoist the Stanley Cup again.