TAMPA, Fla. — The largest part of Ryan Pulock’s progress as he tries to return from an upper-body injury is the prospect of how the big right-handed Islanders defenseman can improve the team’s power play.
Because Pulock is the one guy on the roster who possesses that big-time shot from the point, and without it, the Lightning’s terrific penalty kill can be over-aggressive — using their top-end skating ability and quick hands to disrupt passing lanes and shut down shooting lanes. It is exactly what happened on the Islanders’ first two man-advantages during their 5-3 win over the Lightning in Game 1 of their second-round series on Wednesday night at Amalie Arena.
Though John Tavares got a power-play goal in the second period, it was on a left-wing rush and off the type of high-end shot that only a few players on the planet can convert. By the Islanders going 1-for-4 on the man-advantage, the Tampa Bay penalty kill went to 27-for-29 during the postseason.
“Ryan’s a big guy, he’s a big shot and helps our power play,” coach Jack Capuano said Thursday. “So you get into that situation, 4-on-3, 5-on-3, he possess a big shot. So there’s no doubt as we move forward here, and he gets healthy, we’re going to have some tough decisions to make.”
Pulock joined the healthy scratches as the only players to skate on Thursday, and Capuano pretty much ruled him out for Game 2 on Saturday. Yet Game 3 back in Brooklyn on Tuesday is looking as if it’s the most likely landing spot.
“I think he’s getting closer,” Capuano said. “I wouldn’t — I don’t know if he’d be ready for Game 2, maybe after that. I don’t know, I haven’t talked to the trainers. We would consider lineup changes for sure at some point.”
Marek Zidlicky, the 39-year-old veteran, would be the most obvious choice to come out after he struggled in Game 1.
Capuano showed very little patience with his lines during Game 1, swapping centers Brock Nelson and Frans Nielsen early in the first period. It led to Nelson’s line, with Shane Prince and Ryan Strome, piling up two goals and six points combined.
“You can’t — at this stage, at this point in the season — sit around and hope it’s going to work,” Capuano said. “One goal can cost you games.”
But that doesn’t guarantee those are the lines that Capuano will start with for Game 2.
“I think for me the more tape you watch, the more you and your staff that you know about your players in critical situations,” he said. “We know the tendencies of the opposition, but we know the tendencies of our guys — who can handle what,” he said. “Every game and every series, throughout the year, every game brings a different challenge.”
Regular starting goalie Jaroslav Halak skated again with the extras as he tries to return from his groin injury suffered March 8. It is unknown if he will be ready at any time this series, or how Capuano will deal with it if he is. Thomas Greiss has taken the reins as the starter and run with it.
