Islanders’ late two-goal surge beats Blue Jackets 3-2 at UBS Arena in regulation Sunday

New York scores twice in the final 1:07 to overturn Columbus lead

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, after surrendering two goals in the final 1:07 of regulation on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Columbus had carried a 2-1 advantage into the closing minutes before New York’s late push produced a tying goal and a go-ahead score 29 seconds apart.

The result left the Blue Jackets at 7-5-0 at that point of the season, while the Islanders improved to 6-5-1. Columbus received goals from forward Miles Wood and defenseman Denton Mateychuk, while New York was led by defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who scored twice, and forward Simon Holmstrom, who scored the winner late in the third.

How the game turned: sustained pressure, then a decisive final minute

New York opened the scoring on a first-period power play, with Schaefer converting at 5:53. Columbus stayed within reach behind goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who faced heavy volume throughout the night as the Islanders generated extended offensive-zone time and a significant shot advantage.

Columbus tied the game at 15:21 of the second period when Wood finished a cross-ice feed from Adam Fantilli at the post. The Blue Jackets then took a 2-1 lead at 12:10 of the third, when Mateychuk scored on a backhand after a scramble in front. The goal was assisted by Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan.

In the closing sequence, New York equalized at 18:53 with goaltender David Rittich off the ice for an extra attacker, as Schaefer’s point shot found its way through traffic for his second goal of the game. With 38 seconds left, Holmstrom capitalized at the top of the crease, finishing a rebound created off Anders Lee’s chance to make it 3-2.

Goaltending and special teams

• Rittich made 20 saves on 22 shots for New York.
• Merzlikins made 36 saves for Columbus.
• New York’s opening goal came on the power play; the tying goal came with an extra attacker late in regulation.

Notable individual marks

Schaefer’s two-goal game stood out both for its timing and its rarity for a defenseman so early in a career. His first-period power-play goal set the tone, and his late equalizer created the opening for the Islanders to press for a regulation win rather than settling for overtime.

With Columbus protecting a one-goal lead late, the Islanders’ final-minute execution turned a road-style defensive effort into a regulation defeat.

For Columbus, the loss underscored how thin the margin can be in a one-goal game on the road: strong goaltending and a third-period lead were not enough to prevent a late swing driven by sustained pressure and decisive net-front finishing.