NHL: Ryan Pulock improvises as goalkeeper and saves Islanders, who win 3-2

index

UNIONDALE, New York – The Islanders scored three goals in the second period to defeat Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Saturday in the Stanley Cup semifinal series, but they got hot.

Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson scored 2:58 early in the third half to dissolve the islanders’ lead with just one goal, but the visitors were unable to beat Semyon Varlamov again.

But the most important save came from defender Ryan Bullock, who parried Ryan McDonagh’s shot in the last second of play to confirm the islanders’ victory.

Kneeling in his goalkeeper’s semi-circle, Bullock stopped McDonagh’s low, icy shot with his hand, which circled himself for a backhand shot.

“McDonna got the puck and Farley stepped forward to challenge him,” Bullock said. He played a big pivot, the goal was blank and tried to cover as much space as possible to block the shot, and I got it.

“And there I heard the siren, and then the men came to join me. It was a beautiful moment.”

Bullock received a lot of praise from his teammates.

“I think everyone held their breath when they saw the disc heading into the net,” said striker Matthew Barzal. I was sure it would hit the target, until I saw this miraculous play from Pulley. I’m not about to forget it. “

The series now equals two wins on each side. Game five on Monday night in Tampa.

Josh Bailey, Matthew Barzal and Matt Martin scored for the islanders in the second half, while Varlamov saved 28 saves.

Andrei Vasilevsky was not compromising with lightning. He also had to make some important saves in the final five minutes of the third half to keep his side in the game, including one against Brock Nelson with the end of the plate.

But the visitors made it even more difficult with a 1:12 exit, when defender Victor Hedmann was sent off for tripping over Cal Clatterbuck in an attempt to score in the empty net.

The islanders dominated the game in the last minute, and it was McDonagh’s only chance.

Vasilevsky blocked 27 rounds.

Islanders opened the scoring early in the second half, with his seventh shot of the game. Nelson drew two Lightning players close to him on entry, then handed the disc to Billy on the right side. The striker fired a wrist shot from the top of the hoops to outsmart Vasilevsky on the side of the gauntlet.

Berzal doubled his lead at 13:46, when he pushed Cal Clatterback’s layup back after Vasilevsky lost the ball.

Then the Clutterbuck threaded the needle with a backhand on top.

The Lightning team opposed the goal for offside, but the officials upheld the ruling on ice to confirm the Islanders’ 3-0 lead with 2:03 left in second.

If the twenty-second was the business of the islanders, the lightning was quick to announce that it wouldn’t be brought down so easily.

He first hit the point with an unexpected wrist shot to put the guests in the score at 3:45, then Johnson sealed the lead by a single 2:58 later on his second attempt.

Both teams had chances to score in third, but it was Bullock’s defensive play that ultimately saved the locals.