PHILADELPHIA — Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock were regularly considered one of the NHL's best defensive pairs not too long ago.
However, due in part to injuries, Pulock missed a significant amount of 2021, and Pelech missed multiple stints over the past two seasons, along with lineup decisions, the two have not played together for extended periods of time since the team's conference finals. We weren't together. Coming in 2021.
Barring more injuries, there is a clear path for that to change this season.
Both players hope to return to the top of the league.
“The last two years, it's been probably on and off here and there. Things can always change,” Pulock said before the Islanders' 2-0 loss to the Flyers in the preseason on Thursday. . “But now I think we’ve just gotten our arrogance back for a little bit.
“It's a pair that people don't talk about, but know, in that it's difficult to play against a shutdown. We've been having discussions about going back to our roots and trying to be that force. Ta.”
Perek and Pulock started just 23 games together last season, their first appearance coming after the All-Star break.
In the previous season, they were together for the first 27 games of the season, but due to Pelech's injury they were hardly together after that, with Lane Lambert preferring the combination of Purok and Alexander Romanov.
However, Romanov and Noah Dobson formed a high-end pairing last season, paving the way for Perek and Pulock to play with each other, much like they did when they were together in the AHL.
Mike Riley and Scott Mayfield are expected to form the third pairing.
In theory, the Islanders could have a strong back end if they can stay healthy.
And if Perec and Purok can find the old magic together.
“It's amazing,” Purok said. “I think we enjoy playing together and enjoy the challenge of trying to be a shutdown pair. We just need to perform well every night to give the team a chance. I think this year the team is looking for the challenge of getting back to two reliable guys that they can rely on every night.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy could not say whether running back Ilya Sorokin will play in the remaining preseason games.
Sorokin has not yet skated with the team during training camp, but has been on the ice alone.
