In the days leading up to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, a reporter asked several Islanders what exactly it means when some talks about playoff hockey being different.
At the time it seemed like a rather silly question, but after thinking about it further and knowing that Adam Pelech played a large chunk of Game 5 with an injury, it’s a much more fascinating question than first given credit for. Pelech missed Game 6 with a broken wrist.
Islanders head coach Barry Trotz revealed to reporters that Pelech suffered the injury early in Tuesday’s game and battled through the pain off adrenaline. He did not confirm it was the wrist, which was first reported by The Fourth Period, but did admit it will require surgery.
NYI D Adam Pelech suffered a broken wrist in Game 5 and would’ve been out for the rest of the way if the Islanders held on
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) September 18, 2020
Looking back at Game 5, that’s an incredibly impressive feat for the Islanders’ most important defenseman.
Pelech logged a team-leading 31:59 of ice time in Game 5, which went to double overtime before the Islanders won it 2-1. The 26-year-old logged an average of 45 seconds of ice time while dealing with a broken wrist on Tuesday, which was only a small drop from his average ice time of 53 seconds in Game 4.
And Pelech played a combined 19:14 through the third period and the two overtimes. Add seven hits and a block to that and Pelech had an impressive performance considering the circumstances.
“I think it’s just 100 percent commitment to your team, to your structure,” Devon Toews said recently when asked what playoff hockey is. “Even just the process that your team is going through.”
You don’t get more committed to your team than battling it out for nearly 32 minutes with a broken wrist.
The impact Pelech has had on the Islanders had been eye-opening to a lot of observers this season. First, when Pelech went down earlier during the regular season with an Achilles tendon injury that was supposed to sideline him for the rest of the year. Then in Game 6, when that wrist injury proved too much for Pelech to play.
Still trying to process how Adam Pelech played almost 32 minutes in Game 5 with a broken wrist that needs surgery
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNHL) September 18, 2020
The difference was noticeable without Pelech on the ice during both occasions. The Islanders saw their blue line struggle to adapt to life without the important defenseman during the regular season.
In Game 6, the Islanders weathered the storm a bit better with a much deeper blue line this time around. Still, Pelech’s presence could have been a difference-maker early on in the game.
So what is playoff hockey? Just ask Adam Pelech.
