Islanders News: Pulock winner, Coburn added, first place at the trade deadline

The New York Islanders coughed up an early lead but Ryan Pulock saved the day with an OT winner that involved outstanding plays by Travis Zajac, Mathew Barzal, and an armpit finish from Pulock for his long-awaited first of the season.

That kept the Isles in a tie for first place as today’s NHL trade deadline approached at 3 p.m. EDT today, and made the Rangers feel bad, which is always a noble thing.

But after the game, the Islanders added a guy, this time the fairly beyond prime Braydon Coburn from Ottawa for a seventh-round pick. That allows the Isles to endure three blueline injuries {knock on wood} and still have “guys who’ve played in the NHL” in all six spots.

Islanders News

About the win over the Rangers:

• They spoiled a dominant start, including Kyle Palmieri’s first as an Islander, but Pulock gave them what they needed in the end. [LHH]
• Barry Trotz on Pulock: “It’s his best season by far for me, the way he has defended and his decision making.” [Isles]
• Palmieri: “You’re surrounded by great players up and down this lineup.” [NHL]
• A soothing finish to the six-game homestand. [Newsday | Post]
• Pulock is the third Islanders defenseman with at least three overtime goals (Hickey, Hamrlik) [NYI Skinny]
• In the former creasemates first meeting against one another in the NHL, Igor and Ilya demonstrate why they could be fixtures of this rivalry for years to come. [Newsday]

Coburn trade:

• He hasn’t played much this year and his best years are far behind him, but...experience (and a Cup ring in the bubble) and all that. [LHH | Isles | Newsday]
• “Coburn gives Lamoriello and Trotz a bit more security than Thomas Hickey or Sebastian Aho, neither of whom is 6-foot-5 as Coburn is.” [Athletic]

Meanwhile:

Very fitting This Day in Isles History yesterday: Parise’s OT winner to eliminate the Smurfs. [Isles]

NHL Trade Deadline

• The Bruins were humiliated by the Capitals but at least they finished the night with Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar, it seems. [TSN]
• Jeff Carter (remember him?) goes from the Kings to the Penguins. [Mayor’s Manor | TSN]
• The Bruins also added Mike Reilly from the Senators. [NHL]
• Toronto won the Nick Foligno sweepstakes, while Columbus continues to collect first-round picks. [NHL] They also acquired goalie David Rittich from Calgary. [TSN | Sportsnet]
• Foligno said his heart told him to chase a Cup run with Toronto. [TSN | Sportsnet]
• The Canadiens acquired Jon Merrill from the Red Wings. [NHL]
• Devan Dubnyk is “grateful” to escape the Sharks and possibly answer the Avalanche’s one big concern, in goal. [NHL]
• Jonas Sigenthaler hasn’t played much for the Capitals and now he’s a Devil. [NHL]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores included the Sabres beating the Flyers (teehee), the Capitals destroying the Bruins, and the Penguins beating the Devils to keep pace.

Henrik Lundqvist has some post-open-heart surgery inflammation, and definitely won’t return this season. [NHL]

The Flames changed coaches but it hasn’t been enough, so the selloff and a new era beckons. [TSN]