amny
The New York Islanders' injury troubles show no signs of abating, as veteran defenseman Ryan Pulock is expected to be out for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury. The team announced the timetable on Sunday, roughly 30 minutes after recalling defenseman Isaiah George from AHL Bridgeport, a move that initially seemed to suggest Pulock's absence might be brief.
Pulock was injured early in Thursday's overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild after absorbing a hit from Blake Coleman and did not return. Due to the vague nature of hockey injury reports, it remains uncertain whether the issue is related to the shoulder that required offseason surgery.
In Pulock's absence, Scott Mayfield re-entered the lineup and partnered with Matt Kessel for Saturday's loss to the Edmonton Oilers, while George was recalled as an extra defenseman. George's subsequent return to Bridgeport appears to have been made simply to get the 22-year-old playing time with the Islanders idle until Thursday.
The 32-year-old Pulock, who has spent all 12 of his NHL seasons with New York, becomes the latest addition to a crowded injury list. Defenseman Alex Romanov is out for the season, forwards Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli are week-to-week, and star winger Mathew Barzal is skating on his own but has no set return date as he deals with inflammation in his surgically repaired knee.
Key Analysis
The mounting injuries have intensified speculation about the NHL's decision to shorten the preseason to four games and limit players with 100 or more games of professional experience to two of those contests. Pulock, however, dismissed any link between the reduced preseason and the rash of injuries. "Guys train so hard; guys are on the ice so much in the offseason," Pulock told amNewYork last week. "They come into camp in shape. You have camp. I don't think so. It would have happened in preseason, or it would have happened in training camp. I think it's just unfortunate. The game's so fast. Things happen so fast, and unfortunately, that's kind of what's happening right now."
Originally reported by amny.