Jan 25, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Marcus Hogberg (50) tends net against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Islanders Place Ryan Pulock and Marcus Hogberg on Injured Reserve

Key setbacks for the Islanders as Ryan Pulock and Marcus Högberg land on IR, impacting the team's defense and goaltending depth.

Ryan Pulock sustained an injury during his first shift against the Canes, awkwardly falling behind the net while tangled with Carolina winger Jackson Blake. Favoring his left shoulder, Pulock left the ice. Meanwhile, as head coach Patrick Roy informed Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Marcus Hogberg played through regulation but didn’t return for overtime due to a worsening right-hand injury he sustained in the third period. Sorokin stepped in and secured the win, making one save during overtime.

These injuries are significant setbacks for the Islanders, who are now without their top two right-shot defensemen and relying on their third-best backup goalie. Pulock joins Noah Dobson on the inactive list.

The Islanders have placed Ryan Pulock and Marcus Hogberg on IR with upper-body injuries https://t.co/D3NPWKCbeU pic.twitter.com/zvdvpR8HyR
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 27, 2025

Dobson was placed on long-term injured reserve yesterday to free up cap space following Tony DeAngelo’s signing. This move ensures Dobson will miss action until at least February 25 due to his unexpected right leg injury, keeping him out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break and the February 23 game against the Stars.

Also Read: Canucks Draw Trade Interest for Elias Pettersson

Pulock had played every game this season after missing part of 2023-24 with a lower-body issue. In 48 games, the Manitoba native tallied three goals and 13 assists for 16 points, earning a plus-seven rating and extending his streak of seven consecutive seasons in the positive. Averaging just under 22 minutes per game, Pulock’s pairing with Adam Pelech has consistently been the Islander’s best shutdown duo at even strength, with Pelech’s 1.9 GA/60 and Pulock’s 2.2 GA/60 leading among New York’s regular defensemen.

With Pulock out, Scott Mayfield is now a top-four option alongside Pelech, while DeAngelo is expected to pair with Alexander Romanov as Dobson’s temporary replacement. Depth defenseman Dennis Cholowski will rejoin the lineup alongside Isaiah George on the third pairing after being scratched in three of the last four games. The Islanders have no additional defensemen on their active roster, but Pulock’s IR designation opens a roster spot, potentially allowing a call-up from AHL Bridgeport.

Högberg had been flawless as Sorokin’s substitute for the last month while veteran Semyon Varlamov continues to be out due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old, who previously played in the NHL for the Senators during the 2020-21 season, holds a 2-2-0 record across five starts and two relief outings, boasting a .947 SV% and 1.45 GAA. That’s a significant increase in his AHL statistics from earlier this season, as the Swede faced challenges with a struggling Bridgeport team, posting a .898 SV% and 3.26 GAA in 11 appearances.

The Isles are looking for a comparable boost from Skarek, who may finally play his first NHL game after spending six seasons in the AHL. The 25-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2018 draft but has never proven to be a reliable minor-league choice, not achieving a save percentage above .900 at any level in a single season since his draft year in Finland. In 20 games for Bridgeport this season, he has a 3.22 GAA, .895 SV%, one shutout, and a record of 5-11-1.

Varlamov began skating again almost a month ago, so his comeback is probably imminent. It remains uncertain whether he will surpass Högberg to achieve it first.

Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Marcus Hogberg

New York Islanders

NHL

Ryan Pulock

Anamika Shrivastava

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