Islanders Ryan Pulock quietly leading the way

Ryan Pulock has been a key player for the New York Islanders that no one is talking about.

While a lot of praise is rightfully heaped on the New York Islanders French Canadian duo of Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the efforts of defenseman Ryan Pulock are being overlooked.

With a goal and two assists, Ryan Pulock is tied with Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau for the team lead in scoring with three points. But Pulock is doing more than just putting up points for the New York Islanders in this series.

Top D

As the Islanders number one defenseman, Pulock is out there frequently against the Panthers top players. His 5on5 time-on-ice-with for opposition players goes (1) Aleksander Barkov 24:46, (2) Jonathan Huberdeau 22:30, and (3) Evgenii Dadonov 17:57.

Half of the time any of the three are on the ice at 5on5, Ryan Pulock is there to defend against them. And he’s done an incredible job doing so. None have a point at 5on5 while Pulock is out there.

Only Barkov has a 5on5 point amongst all three of the Panthers top forwards, and Pulock wasn’t out there for it.

And then you consider that he leads the team in terms of production.

His lone goal was an absolute bullet of a shot on the power play that went right through Sergei Bobrovsky. His two helpers were primary assists on Jordan Eberle‘s first goal in Game 2 that proved to be the game-winner and he got the primary for Brock Nelson‘s consolation goal in Game 3.

There’s nothing more to like about Ryan Pulock’s game. When Barry Trotz handed him the keys to the defense in 2018, this is what he envisioned. A player who can play big minutes, who can shut down the opposition’s best players, all-the-while providing an option going forward for his team.

And at 25-years-old (he turns 26 in October), Ryan Pulock is just getting started. Expect a big contract in the offseason to cement Pulock’s position on the team.