Semyon Varlamov silences Blue Jackets, helps Isles win 2nd straight

Semyon Varlamov, making his second start of the season, stopped all 33 shots he faced Saturday night for the visiting New York Islanders, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0.

Kyle Palmieri scored in the first and Matt Martin added a goal with 3:21 left in the third for the Islanders, who have won two straight after a three-game losing streak.

The shutout was the 39th of Varlamov's career and his first since he turned back 23 shots in a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 26.

Spencer Martin made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three straight (0-1-2).

The Islanders took the lead with 4:15 left in the first after a faceoff win deep in the Columbus zone. New York moved the puck around after Brock Nelson outdueled Adam Fantilli before Pierre Engvall, who was surrounded by Alexandre Texier and Jake Bean, fired an angled shot from above the right faceoff circle. The puck caromed off Martin and to Palmieri, who buried the rebound into the left corner of the net.

The Islanders outshot the Blue Jackets 23-18 in the first two periods before Columbus mounted several pushes in the third, when it held a 17-10 shot advantage and peppered Varlamov with eight shots during a six-minute span in which Palmieri drew a penalty for hooking.

Varlamov gloved a point-blank shot from Jack Roslovic with 13:17 left, 37 seconds before Palmieri headed to the penalty box. Roslovic then hit the post with another shot 64 seconds into the power play.

Spencer Martin's ill-fated clearing pass led to Matt Martin's insurance goal. Casey Cizikas picked off the pass and fired a shot at Spencer Martin before Matt Martin pounced on the rebound and tucked a shot over the goalie's stick.

The Blue Jackets pulled Spencer Martin almost immediately thereafter but couldn't convert any of their final five shots.