Though Marcus Hogberg has been solid, coach Patrick Roy said Sorokin will be in net for the important game against Columbus at UBS.

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

Sorokin's 29 saves led the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Flyers. The New York Islanders picked up a key 3-1 Metropolitan Division victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Friday night. Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist and Bo Horvat had the game-winning goal while Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots for his 15th win of the season.

The Isles are 8-5-7 in games decided by a single goal including 4-5 in regulation. They are 2-6 in games decided in overtime and are 2-1 in shootouts. The Isles are 3-8 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Horvat's two goals in a dominating three-goal second period for the Islanders leave Blue Jackets scuffling with back-to-back defeats.

Backed by Sorokin's 25 saves, the Islanders defeated the Blue Jackets 3-1 in a key divisional matchup. ELMONT NY -- Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Islanders defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-1 at UBS Arena Monday night.

Bo Horvat scored twice in the second period Monday night for the host New York Islanders, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 in Elmont, N.Y. Simon Holmstrom's short-handed goal in the second proved to be the game-winner for the Islanders,

The Islanders scored three goals in the second period and went on to a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Monday.

Final Thoughts: The Islanders last faced the Blue Jackets on Oct. 30, when they were shut out 2-0. That was the game in which Mathew Barzal suffered his long-term upper-body injury. The gap between the Islanders and Columbus is eight points right now.

The Blue Jackets never quite got going in a lackluster 3-1 loss to the Islanders to end their seven-game point streak.

The Isles scored a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena, closing the gap from eight points to six against a team that started the day in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

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.