Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves in his second consecutive shutout for the host Columbus Blue Jackets, who made their lone victory this season over the New York Islanders a timely one by cruising to a 4-0 victory Tuesday night.

Ryan Dzingel scored in the first period for the Blue Jackets, who received third-period goals from Artemi Panarin, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Cam Atkinson to blow open a close game.

Columbus will have a chance to move into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot Thursday when it plays host to the Montreal Canadiens.

The shutout was the third in four games and the career-high eighth of the season for Bobrovsky, who had seven shutouts during the 2016-17 season. Bobrovsky was the goalie of record in the Blue Jackets' first three games this season against the Islanders, who outscored Columbus 8-2 and recorded shutouts in the previous two games Feb. 14 and March 11.

Goalie Thomas Greiss, who earned the win in each of the first three games against the Blue Jackets, recorded 29 saves for the Islanders.

New York was blanked for the third time in five games.

The loss Tuesday damaged the division-championship and home-ice hopes for the Islanders, who fell three points behind the first-place Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division and remained tied for second place with the idle Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Blue Jackets scored the only goal they'd need on the power play in the first period. Dzingel's shot from the top of the faceoff circle sailed past the outstretched stick of Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk and past Greiss, who was screened by Columbus right winger Josh Anderson at the 5:43 mark.

The goal snapped the Blue Jackets' scoreless streak against the Islanders at 157 minutes, 10 seconds.

Turnovers by the Islanders led to the Blue Jackets' first two goals of the third.

Matt Duchene picked up a loose puck near center ice to begin a sequence that ended with Panarin scoring on a breakaway 2:38 into the period.

Bjorkstrand pounced on a Boychuk turnover deep in the Islanders' zone and scored an unassisted goal with 8:46 remaining. Atkinson added an empty-netter with 26.5 seconds left.

--Field Level Media