In the New York Islanders ' matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, defenseman Noah Dobson left the game early due to an apparent injury in the third period. Dobson left the game at 1:14 of the final frame after taking a hit from Columbus' Cole Sillinger:

This is what it looks like when the season slips away in January. A disastrous second period, a total squandering of momentum, a team that played most of the night as though nobody was on the same page and a home crowd that sounded more disappointed than upset.

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

Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock also scored, Marcus Hogberg made 18 saves and the Islanders snapped a two-game skid.

Leevi Merilainen made 24 saves for his second shutout in three games and the Ottawa Senators beat the New York Islanders 2-0.

The Blue Jackets saw their season-long, six-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, but they picked up a point in a 1-0 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. Daniil Tarasov stopped all 26 shots he faced through three periods and regulation, but Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck's lone goal in the shootout decided the contest.

NEW YORK -- - Mathew Barzal and Brock ... Nelson put the Islanders back ahead for good just 40 seconds later, and Dobson made it 3-1 with 27 seconds left in the period. Pulock added to the lead ...

What’s worse for the Islanders right now — their lack of power play production or their lack of power play opportunities? Both are on a historically bad pace.

The Islanders inducted Brent Sutter to the franchise’s Hall of Fame prior to the game. Sutter won two Stanley Cups with the Islanders and finished with 363 goals and 466 assists in his 19-year NHL career.

The New York Islanders hosted the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night to wrap up their season series. The game was uneventful as both defenses stepped up and aside from an Adam Gaudette goal in the second period and an empty-net goal,