Farewell to One More

Ryan Pulock (Brandon Wheat Kings)

The ending for many of the prospects are going to speed up the deeper we get into the playoff season. Only 1 New York Ranger prospect but 3 New York Islander prospects played with 1 advancing, 1 holding on and 1 seeing his season come to an end.

In Edmonton, Griffin Reinhart (NYI 2012 1st) and his Edmonton Oil Kings are heading to their 3rd straight WHL Eastern Conference Final after eliminating Ryan Pulock (NYI 2013 1st) and his Brandon Wheat Kings 5-1 to win their WHL Eastern semifinals series 5-1. Got to give Edmonton all the credit in this one as they knocked Brandon down early and then never let them get into the game.

Edmonton dominated in every area not allowing Brandon more than 7 shots a period and keeping them off the scoreboard until the 3rd period. Edmonton would use a 2:08 span in the first period to make this a non-contest as they scored 3 goals in that span for a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

Brandon would get a goal early in the 3rd period thanks to a 5 on 3 power play but Edmonton would add 2 more goals to crush any hopes of a comeback. Griffin Reinhart would record his 3rd assist of the series on the primary assist on Edmonton's 5th goal for his 3rd point of the series. Give the Edmonton defense credit as they shut down Ryan Pulock totally as in not one single point in the entire series.

Reinhart and company get to rest as they await the winner of the Kootenay/Medicine Hat series but it doesn't look like anyone in the Eastern Conference can stop them. As for Ryan Pulock, this may have been his final season in the WHL as he is eligible to play in the AHL next season.

Pulock finished his season 23-40-63 which was tops among all Islander prospects and 4th overall among the WHL defensemen. Next season unless he makes the Islanders out of training camp. Reinhart and Pulock are going to make one very dangerous defensive pairing.

Ryan Graves (NYR 2013 4th) was scoreless with a +1 on 1 shot with 1 hit and a minor for roughing as his Val-d'Or Foreurs took game 5 with a 5-2 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The win gives the Foreurs a 3-2 lead in their series with game 6 to be played in Drummondville on Sunday afternoon.

Loic Leduc (NYI 2012 4th) and his Rimouski Oceanic rallied from down 3-1 to steal a 4-3 win in overtime to grab a 3-2 series lead over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. This series because of travel has been played in a 2-3-2 format which will give Rimouski a 2 game edge for game's 6 and 7.

Leduc was "even" with just 1 shot and he was "even' with 2 hits.