Pulock & Palmieri Leading Islanders Playoff Series Pushback

Although the New York Islanders are down 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes, two players have stood out and were instrumental in Game 3's win.

Although the New York Islanders are down 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes, two players have stood out and were instrumental in Game 3's win. 

From the opening shift in Carolina on Monday night, veteran defenseman Ryan Pulock seemed to have an extra pep in his step, more so than the average player in the playoffs.

He launched Canes forward Jack Drury, setting the tone, a tone that he's kept up through three games now. 

In Game 1, Pulock recorded nine hits, with two blocks and two shots, one being the Islanders' only goal in 22:44 TOI.

"I thought it was the most physical game I've seen him play, and I thought he played amazing," Lambert said.

Teammate Mathew Barzal praised Pulock's performance.

"I thought he was our best player last night by a mile, so the rest of us got to match that," Barzal said.

In Game 2, Pulock continued that physicality, with seven hits and two blocks in 26:12 TOI, along with two shots. 

And then came Game 3, the first-ever playoff game at UBS Arena, where Pulock rose to the occasion en route to the 5-1 win.

With how vital an Islanders' first goal would be in front of a rowdy crowd, Pulock made it happen with under eight minutes to play in the second. 

It seemed that the Hurricanes were on their way to escaping their zone and getting a much-needed change, but Pulock had other ideas as he kept the puck in before finding Casey Cizikas all alone in front.

"I can't really take too much credit. That pass from Pulock was unbelievable," Cizikas said. "I didn't even think he saw me, but he made a beautiful pass, and I was able to just get it over his shoulder and into the net."

Pulock wasn't done as with the Islanders up 4-1 in the final few minutes of the third, he made another strong play to keep the puck in the Hurricanes' zone before finding Cizikas again.

After corralling the puck, Cizikas let a shots go, with Anders Lee deflecting it home.

Pulock ended his night with three hits and four blocks, along with those two assists in 20:18 TOI. 

Through three games, Pulock has a goal and two assists, with 19 hits and nine blocks, in an average of 23:05. Not to mention he's played valuable minutes on the penalty kill, which has been dominant since allowing two in Game 1. 

"He's been an all-star," Cizikas said. "The confidence that he has with the puck, the plays that he's making, he's been one of our top defensemen back there this entire series." 

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert added: "I think he's just been real, real strong, I guess, so to speak. Strong in battles, strong moving pucks. I've liked his game."

Adam Pelech had glowing words for his defense partner. 

“He’s been incredible. He has really taken his game to another level these past few games, some of the best hockey I've seen him play,” Pelech said. “We’re going to need them to keep doing that because he's a huge part of our team. And he's a big reason why we won last night and why we can have success going forward.”

Since Game 1, Kyle Palmieri has been one of the Islanders' strongest forwards. 

Nothing has really changed in his game as since returning from his second upper-body injury back on Jan. 23, he's been exceptional. 

Although Palmieri did not get on the scoreboard n Game 1 in Raleigh, with three shots and four hits 17:15 TOI, the effort paid off in Game 2.

With the Islanders down 2-1 back on Wednesday, Palmieri beat out Carolina defenseman Brent Burns before circling the Hurricanes net, eventually potting a backhander to get the Islanders back in the game.

Before the halfway point of the third period, Palmieri made a quick pass to linemate Brock Nelson in stride for the go-ahead goal, a goal that should have had the Islanders heading back to New York with a road split.

Palmieri ended Game 2 with a goal, an assist, and another four hits in 13:29.

In front of an anxious UBS Arena crowd for Game 3, with so much more on the line given the 2-0 deficit in the series, Palmieri scored the game-winning goal with 3:51 to play in the third via a power-play deflection.

Forty-four seconds later, Palmieri fed Matt Martin at the Hurricanes' left face-off dot, and it was 3-1 in a blink of an eye. 

Palmieri ended his night with a goal and an assist for a second straight night, with four hits and two blocks in 15:39.

"It started with Palms. He had a hell of a night," Lee said postgame after Palmieri's goal sparked three more quick ones, four in just 2:18 -- the fastest four goals in Stanley Cup Playoff history. 

"He's been strong in battles down low in the offensive zone," Lambert said. "I think he's taken pucks to the net, as he did in Carolina, and is a good net-front presence on the power play. So he's been good."

Through three games, Palmieri has two goals and two assists, with 12 hits, two blocks, and eight shots in 15:28. 

When Palmieri has been on the ice this postseason, at five-on-five, the Islanders have outscored their opponents 4-0.