NHL

Nabokov, Islanders blank Blue Jackets

This weekend version of New York, New York could cost the Blue Jackets the playoff spot they are desperate to grab.

Columbus gave everything it had at home in a loss to the playoff-hopeful Rangers on Friday night, and followed it up with a disheartening 2-0 defeat at the Coliseum on Sunday to the Islanders, who are just playing out the string.

“It’s the NHL. The other team is paid to play, too,” defenseman Jack Johnson said. “There is no easy teams. Nobody took them lightly, nobody didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, we just didn’t score a goal.”

Evgeni Nabokov made 41 saves in his 58th NHL shutout, and Travis Hamonic scored a coast-to-coast, power-play goal in the second period to pace the Islanders, who are third to last in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus had a total of 24 shots in the first two periods and then fired 17 in a desperate final frame when the Blue Jackets had four of their six power plays.

“If you can’t come and push yourself every night, go do putt-putt or something,” Johnson said. “Everyone tried. We knew how important this one was. I can’t question anyone’s effort. It was just a tough game.”

Columbus, which has dropped to fifth in the Metropolitan Division, has fallen out of an Eastern Conference playoff position and has lost three of four.

Nabokov got the best of Russian counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky in their third meeting this season and posted his third shutout. It was just the Islanders’ second regulation win ever over the Blue Jackets.

“We were playing hard for our fans,” Nabokov said. “We worked hard and we found a way to win.”