Pulock feeling confident, comfortable with Isles

There's a confidence that's come into Ryan Pulock's game this month and it's shown in the way he's been handling the puck.
Pulock's been patient and poised with the puck on his stick, making moves on the blue line, pulling it around forecheckers and keeping his head up, looking for the best play instead of dish instead of succumbing to the pressure. Last Thursday he sidestepped a stick-less, but pestering Sidney Crosby before skating in, shooting and ultimately starting the play that led to a Jordan Eberle goal in the Isles overtime loss to the Penguins.

"That just comes along with the confidence and trusting yourself," Pulock said. "Lately I've been able to do that, hold pucks a little bit, make little moves at the blue line and kind of get guys out of lanes."
It's helped him create space to get pucks on net, whether it's his 100 mph canon, or just a wrister to create some chaos. Creating more of those opportunities is still an area he's working to improve.
"I've had some shots blocked recently here that I'd like to get through," Pulock said. "So I'm going to continue to work on that and make those deceptive moves and faking guys and getting pucks off quick."

The subtle plays - on both blue lines - don't always wind up on the scoresheet, but they do make an impression on Doug Weight, who gave Pulock the chance to skate with Nick Leddy for two games on the Islanders top pair with Johnny Boychuk recently sidelined. Playing against the Crosby and getting a season-high 20:42 of ice time against Pittsburgh was a big jump in responsibility for the 23-year-old, who has patiently waited for his chance to become an NHL regular.
"Getting to play against certain players for defensemen it's a great challenge and I think the growth is exponential in that regard," Weight said. "I thought it was good for Ryan in that regard."
Weight wanted to give Scott Mayfield a similar opportunity on Monday against Washington, but said he liked the way Pulock has progressed in his defensive zone.
"He's really exploding into players and using his big body," Weight said. "It's been really good in his D zone, just being assertive, having a good stick and he's making contact with people and getting more comfortable with the league and himself."

Pulock has played six straight games since the calendar flipped to December and picked up his first even strength point of the season vs Pittsburgh. He's been quarterbacking the second power-play unit, but opportunities like the top pair assignment and encouragement from the coaching staff only reinforce his comfort and confidence.
"I think slowly in the last month I've been getting more comfortable out there, doing more things with the puck," Pulock said "It's just that confidence of making those plays and I think it's only going to grow as I get to continue to play."