When Ryan Pulock fired a blast from the point that beat Andrei Vasilevskiy in Game 1, it highlighted a major difference between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, and no it wasn’t the goaltending.
The goal, which became the game-winner for New York, was Pulock’s fourth goal of the playoffs with three serving as the winning tally. It was also the sixth time an Islanders defender had found the back of the net in the postseason.
While the core of the Islanders’ game is their strong defensive style, they’ve quietly built a group of defenders who can swing the tide on the offensive side of things as well. Pulock’s four goals are as many as Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal have had throughout the playoffs and he is tied for fourth among all Islanders skaters for most goals.
Three of the Islanders’ six regular defensemen have at least one goal during the postseason and everyone. except for Andy Green, has at least a point in the playoffs. Noah Dobson’s seven points — all assists — leads Islanders defenseman and Scott Mayfield’s 29 shots is the fifth most of any skater on the roster.
Dobson’s seven assists are one shy behind Pulock and Devon Toews, who both have eight, for the most assists by an Islanders defenseman in a single playoff year. He is also the second defenseman in Isles’ history to record at least seven playoff assists before his 22nd birthday, according to Islanders statistician Eric Hornick.
The first was Denis Potvin in 1975 when he recorded nine assists in 17 playoff games that year.
It’s a stark contrast from Tampa Bay, which does not have a single defenseman with a goal in the playoffs this year. Victor Hedman’s 11 points lead all defensemen and are fifth among all Tampa Skaters, but only three of their blueliners have more than two points in the postseason.
What the Islanders also benefit from is the timeliness in which their defenseman are scoring. Pulock’s goal on Sunday served as the game-winner after Tampa Bay scored in the final minute of the game.
The Islanders’ top pair defenseman’s goal in Game 4 against Pittsburgh was part of a second-period surge that broke open a scoreless tie and would result in a series-tying 4-1 win. In Game 6 of that series, his goal at 8:48 of the second period put New York ahead 4-3.
“He’s obviously extremely important. He’s a great player,” Adam Pelech said about his D partner. “It was a big goal for us last night, but it’s not just scoring goals. He’s done a ton of stuff all over the ice to help us win during the playoffs and he’s going to be a guy that we count on going forward.”
Pulock’s three winning goals during the Islanders run this season is the first time in franchise history a defender has accomplished the feat.
Timeliness hasn’t been limited to just Pulock either. Mayfield’s goal in Game 3 of the First round helped tie the game in the second period.
