Controversial Islanders call brings back haunting Blue Jackets memories nearly a year later

Almost a year to the day after a goaltender interference call against Kyle Palmieri lost the Islanders a game against the Blue Jackets that started their season’s death spiral, they were on the wrong end of another controversial call against those same Blue Jackets that might have had the same effect.

The Islanders hung on Sunday to beat the Blue Jackets 1-0, rendering their wiped-off goal a matter of secondary discussion. But bet they’ll be asking the league for an explanation as to why, exactly, Bo Horvat’s goal at 12:06 of the third was waved off for interference following a Columbus challenge.

Horvat’s shot from the top of the right circle was turned aside by Jet Greaves, but the rebound popped out to a charging Anders Lee. Mathieu Olivier plowed into Lee and the two went into the crease, with the puck caroming off Olivier and trickling in.

After a long review, it was determined interference because, Lee said, referee Frederick L’Ecuyer determined the Islanders captain had gone in the crease on his own.

“Pretty sure I was trying to break,” Lee said.

Lee said — and based on the video, he seemed to be telling the truth — that Olivier had pushed him.