Islanders Room: Relief, Pulock’s Big Game

BOSTON— The New York Islanders (15-18-7) found a way to win a hockey game after spending the last three weeks finding a way to lose them.

After the game, the room blasted “I’m Your Man” by Wham!. The vibes were high as the Islanders won their first game in the new year.

Anders Lee and Bo Horvat both scored twice in the victory. Horvat had the OT winner. Ryan Pulock registered his first three-point game since 2022 with one goal and two assists.

Despite the positives, the Islanders did have a 4-2 lead in the third period. They blew that lead thanks to two consecutive David Pastrnak goals.

NYI Hockey Now was there in the room and spoke with Lee, Horvat, and Head Coach Patrick Roy. I also spoke exclusively with Ryan Pulock about his big game.

Lee, Horvat, Roy:

Some admitted relief came from around the room after the close win, not only because it snapped a losing streak but also because of how close they came to disaster.

The offense roared to life after two straight one-goal performances against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Lee emphasized the keys to that: “Sometimes when you’re pressing and the way things have been going, you got to just settle in and play. I thought we settled in and played a hard game tonight.”

He hints at a larger sense of low confidence that has been spreading. Roy specifically mentions that the team had gotten down on themselves after a goal in Pittsburgh, which took them out of the game.

Roy immediately brought that up postgame, saying “Even when they scored that second goal in the second period, halfway in the period, I loved the energy that we had right after, how we respond after that goal.”

That’s a massive compliment from their coach just over a week after he called out their mentality after the game in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.

As for the moment when Horvat’s overtime shot went in?

Lee said it best: “Oh, it was great. We’re just f**k**g pumped. In some ways, a touch relieved. And I thought we deserved that win to be in regulation.”

Horvat followed that sentiment, saying in a more measured tone, “It definitely feels good… We played a strong 60 minutes. (We) finally get rewarded for the way we played. That definitely feels good.”

Roy hoped the win would inspire more confidence from the group. “I hope so. I really, really do.”

They desperately need the confidence to string together some wins. Specifically, Roy said they needed a game like this and hopes they bring it with them to Vegas on Thursday, where they meet the Golden Knights.

Pulock’s Big Night:

Pulock’s game drew a lot of attention as well, with it being his highest offensive output since November 26, 2022. Beyond that, he was very steady defensively and made no glaring mistakes.

Roy specifically heaped praise upon the veteran defender, saying “It was probably his best since I’ve been here, it’s probably his best game. I thought that he was skating well. He was moving well.”

”The move that he made in that second period, I know we missed the net, but that was a pretty good move. And the goal that he prepared for Anders, that was another very good play. He was really, really solid tonight.”

As for Pulock himself, he felt he saw the ice real well. He didn’t love his game but he took away a lot of positives.

Speaking exclusively to NYI Hockey Now, Pulock said, “I was a little back and forth, not exactly how I want it to be. But, I think at the end of the day obviously we stuck with it and found a way. I think tonight know I made a made a decent play defensively on the on the shorthanded goal, and then (on my goal it was) good screen in front on the shot. Then, a great finish by Leezy on the last one.

”I try to be involved as much as I can offensively.  At times, I want to do a little more but sometimes it doesn’t work out. Tonight, it was just kind of working”

Schematically, the defense played one of their best games of the season. While leaky toward the end of the third, they limited Boston after their opening goal the entire game, sans a Dennis Cholowski mistake leading to Justin Brazeau’s second-period tally.

The defense also got extremely active in the offensive zone, something they haven’t done enough of this year.

Lee jumped on that and praised his teammates: “I thought our D played a great game tonight, getting pucks through (on net). All of them. Puls (Pulock) was great. It really was one of their better games. It makes a huge difference for our offense.”