New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock will miss the next four-to-six weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Wednesday.
The 27-year-old seemed to be in pain after blocking a shot and then limping to the bench during the second period of Monday's clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. He played just over two minutes in Monday's final frame and didn't suit up for Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Pulock's absence is a huge blow for New York's defense corps. He eats up a ton of hard minutes for the team, averaging 21:07 of ice time per game. He's registered two points over 12 contests this campaign and leads all Islanders defensemen with 34 blocks.
A crucial component to New York's recent playoff runs, the underrated stalwart signed an eight-year, $49.2-million extension in October that kicks in after this season.
The Islanders have stumbled to a 5-6-2 record to start the campaign. They host the Calgary Flames on Saturday, which will be the first game ever played at UBS Arena.