Islanders' Noah Dobson sits out with upper-body injury, listed as day-to-day
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson sets before a face off against the Winnipeg Jets in the second period of an NHL hockey game at UBS Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Noah Dobson was not available for the Islanders’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, and it’s unclear how long the top-pair defenseman and assists leader might be sidelined with an upper-body injury.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy listed Dobson, who missed a game for the first time this season, as day-to-day.
“It’s a big piece of our team,” Roy said. “When we lost [Scott] Mayfield, we give opportunities to other guys and we approach it the same way.”
Dobson, who has 10 goals and a career-high 60 assists for a career-high 70 points in 79 games in his fifth NHL season, exited Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens at 5:33 of the first period after logging 1:28 on three shifts.
Dobson also quarterbacks the Islanders’ top power-play unit.
In addition to Mayfield, who has been out since Feb. 24 and underwent season-ending ankle surgery, the Islanders have dealt with long-term injuries to defensemen Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Robert Bortuzzo this season.
Sebastian Aho, playing for the third time in 12 games, took Dobson’s spot. He was paired with Alexander Romanov and on the man advantage.
The Islanders went 0-for-5 on the power play and had only two shots. In 5:47 of continuous power-play time to start the second period, the Islanders allowed a shorthanded goal and had Pierre Engvall’s potential tally overturned because Kyle Palmieri was offside.
“When things aren’t going well, you get a little frustrated or you grip your sticks,” Pulock said. “I think we just have to take a breath here. We’re going to look at it. It’s a key moment in the game and today we had lots of opportunities to try and take a bigger lead.”
Breaking up
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette broke up the defense pair of Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller, though the two had a shift together in the final seconds of regulation and again in overtime. Miller partnered with Braden Schneider and Trouba skated with Erik Gustafsson.
“It was just something we wanted to look at,” Laviolette said.
Trouba logged 21:28, including 6:27 on the penalty kill. Schneider played 18:58, with 17:06 coming at even strength.
Giving advice
Pelech was awarded his first career penalty shot when Artemi Panarin hooked him on a breakaway at 13:04 of the third period. Pelech attempted a forehanded wrist shot that was rather easily turned aside by Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Roy was asked if anybody on the bench said anything to Pelech before the penalty shot.
“Have fun,” Roy said. “Their goalie made a nice save.”
Fasching, Rempe play
Islanders left wing Hudson Fasching had two assists as he drew in for Simon Holmstrom after being a healthy scratch the previous five games.
Rangers right wing Matt Rempe entered the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games. He logged 5:37 on eight shifts with four hits and one shot on goal and was a minus-1.
