After playing just 1:28 before leaving Thursday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury, the New York Islanders will be without defenceman Noah Dobson on Saturday against the New York Rangers.
Head coach Patrick Roy confirmed before the game that the 24-year-old would not suit up for the Battle of New York when speaking to reporters pre-game. Roy said Dobson is day-to-day.
It’s unclear when Dobson got hurt or how it happened but he didn’t return after playing early in the first period.
Dobson is in the midst of a career year, scoring 10 goals and notching career-high marks in assists with 60 and points with 70.
Dobson racked up five points in his previous three games, entering the game against Montreal. On Apr. 9, Dobson collected his 60th assist of the season, becoming just the second defenceman in Islanders history to reach the milestone.
The Islanders sit third in the Metropolitan division with a 37-27-15 record, good for 89 points. They’ve yet to fully clinch a playoff spot but are three points ahead of the second wild card Pittsburgh Penguins with three games left in the season.
Currently on a six-game win streak, the Islanders take on the Rangers Saturday before closing out their season against the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, in what could be a decisive game.
