New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock is expected to miss the next two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury, the team announced. The injury occurred during Thursday night's game against the Wild.
Pulock's injury adds to an already lengthy list of sidelined players for the Islanders, including Matias Maccelli, Calum Ritchie, Mathew Barzal, and Alexander Romanov. Maccelli is considered the closest to returning among the group, currently skating on his own. Barzal has also begun skating, but his timeline remains indefinite.
The Islanders' defensive lineup saw adjustments in the wake of Pulock's injury. Matt Kessel was inserted into the third pair alongside Scott Mayfield, while Logan Stanley was paired with Tony DeAngelo. Matthew Schaefer played on the right side of Adam Pelech. The defensive pairings faced a challenging matchup against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in a recent 4-0 loss to the Oilers, a game where the Islanders struggled offensively.
Despite the setbacks, the upcoming schedule includes a four-day break, allowing the team time to rest and potentially reassess its roster. Coach DeBoer acknowledged the need to reset and mentioned that a plan would be developed during this period.