Pulock Pulls Out Game-Saving Block in 3-2 Win Over Bolts

Usually at the end of a hockey game, the winning team congregates around their goaltender, lining up to congratulate him for a good night's work.
On Saturday, the Islanders - including and perhaps most enthusiastically goalie Semyon Varlamov - were all crowding around Ryan Pulock, after the defenseman turned in the save of the game.

The pivotal play came in the dying seconds of the
Islanders 3-2 win in Game 4
over the Lightning, to knot their series 2-2. Bolts defenseman Ryan McDonagh was wide open when he corralled a loose puck, drove to the net and pulled a spin-o-rama around a diving Brock Nelson. The spin move drew Varlamov out of his crease and seemingly gave McDonagh an open net to slide the puck in and force overtime.
That was, until Pulock jumped in, diving into the crease, blocking the attempt and calmly steering it out of the crease, all without closing his hand on the puck, which would have triggered a penalty shot.

"[McDonagh] made a heck of a play with the spin-o-rama. The net was open. I just tried to make myself big and take it away and get it," Pulock said. "You hear the sound of the clock going and all the boys jump on you, it's a good feeling."
The Islanders shared their perspective of the play in the postgame media availabilities. Matt Martin, who netted the game-winner, watched it on the jumbotron. Head Coach Barry Trotz said he couldn't see it because the Islanders were all standing on the bench, blocking his view. However they saw it, they were sure going to remember it.
"I think everybody's breath got taken away when that puck was coming," Mathew Barzal said. "I thought it was going in. Just a miraculous play by [Pulock]. Not going to be forgetting that one."
Pulock's play was emblematic of the type of sacrifice and commitment the Islanders pride themselves on. Pulock's goal line block was the 14th registered by an Islanders defenseman on Saturday night, with all six blueliners recording at least one. Adam Pelech finished the night with a game-high four blocks.
"Obviously a heck of a play by Pulock to save the day there, but it's the kind of desperation that all our D play with and all of our players play with in general," Martin said.

Pulock has three game-winning goals in the postseason thus far and can add a game-saver to his 2021 playoff resume.
Pulock said he'd never played goalie growing up, aside from the odd turn in net in street hockey, but Saturday marked the second highlight-reel save of his career.

of an open net in the Qualifying Round in the 2020 bubble. The stakes were higher on Saturday night, with the Islanders needing a win to even up the series.
"The situation that we're in, how deep we are in the playoffs and how important these games are. There's probably no situation like this that I've had before," Pulock said. "It obviously feels good to score goals, but when you can save a game like that and get the win like that it's a good feeling."