Today is the conclusion of the “Under Pressure” series and we will examine the Islanders’ goalie who has the most pressure on him entering the 13-14 season. A case could be made that the top three goalies in the organization all have something to prove this season and this position by far is the biggest question mark as the team enters training camp which starts in a little over a week.

Entering this season Islanders prospect Anders Nilsson must prove that his medical issues are behind him and he can carry the load in Bridgeport proving that he can become a starting NHL goalie in the near future. For the Islanders to be successful this season starter Evgeni Nabokov must have another stellar regular season and continue to be one of the Islanders' best players on a nightly basis.

However for the Islanders to have any chance off returning to the post season they must be able to get at best average play from their backup goalie position. At the age of 38, Nabokov cannot be expected to carry such a heavy load. For the team to be successful they must be able to count on a backup to play at least 20 to 25 games this year and currently the player in that role is Kevin Poulin.

While Poulin burst onto the Islander scene three years ago his progression has stalled for various reasons. Injuries, rust, inconsistent play by his defenseman have all led to average numbers last year in both the AHL and the NHL but his inability to fix glaring issues in his game has caused this season to become a make or break year for the young netminder. If Kevin Poulin can be a .500 goalie over the course of 20 games the Islanders will make the playoffs.

My cause for both concern and doubt in Poulin’s game has nothing to do with his injuries or rust; it has to do with his technique. Over the course of his time in Bridgeport, Poulin’s play has been both spectacular and frustrating. Poulin is an extremely athletic goalie who can challenge a shooter and also can make the amazing save with his agility and strong lateral movement. However when Poulin is going bad his rebound control is shaky, he over commits to the shooter and most intriguing of all he has a difficult time catching the puck. Honestly in my days of watching all levels of hockey I have not seen many goalies struggle the way Poulin does at times with his glove hand.

With all that aside, Kevin Poulin does have talent. I think his key to success in the NHL has to be the defense in front of him. A great defense can be a calming factor for a goalie and with the likes of Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald blocking shots Poulin can relax in the net and make the saves he is surely capable of making.

I do not believe the team is asking the world of Kevin Poulin. The Islanders just need a steady factor in the net on nights Nabokov is being rested. I do feel that the team will have its eyes locked solely on this position. Every one of Poulin’s starts will be closely scrutinized and if he gets off to a bad start, Islanders General Manager Garth Snow may be forced to make a change and bring in a veteran goalie or promote Anders Nilsson from Bridgeport.

Of all the questions heading into the season the backup goalie position will be the one to watch because the Islanders cannot succeed without steady play between the pipes. This week we will start to look at some of the roster spot battles that will occur when Islander training camp opens. On Thursday I will examine the one spot on the blue line that is empty and which players are most likely to be finalists for that position. As always for all things hockey please follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @DanDanNoodles78.

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