Prized defenseman Noah Dobson makes debut with Isles, gets assist
Noah Dobson #8 of the Islanders looks on during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at NYCB Live on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Prized defense prospect Noah Dobson skated the first two laps of warmups on his own, the accepted rite of passage for any rookie making his NHL debut.
His other highlight in the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum was setting up Matt Martin’s goal at 13:32 of the third period with a pinpoint pass to the crease as Dobson got his first NHL point.
“I’ve always had a calm demeanor on the ice but it’s kind of surreal and you have those jitters,” said Dobson, 19, the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draft. “Doing the lap in warmups, it was a really cool experience and something you work toward all your life.”
Dobson added he preferred a win but his assist was “another cool moment to add to the night.”
The right-shooting Dobson, paired with Nick Leddy, logged 18:50 over 24 shifts, including 48 seconds on the penalty kill, and had three shots and four attempts blocked.
He became just the third teenager to play for the Islanders since 2010 after Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier and the Islanders’ first teen-aged defenseman since Mathieu Biron in 1999.
“For the first game against a team that was wheeling around and getting a little bit of free rein, I thought he did really well,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.
Bailey’s 800th
Left wing Josh Bailey became the sixth player in franchise history to play 800 games for the Islanders, following Bryan Trottier (1,123), Denis Potvin (1,060), Bobby Nystrom (900), Clark Gillies (872) and Bob Bourne (814).
“I feel like I’ve got a few more hundred left in me,” Bailey, 30, said.
Isles files
Anthony Beauvillier scored his first career shorthanded goal. He has a three-game point streak and Leo Komarov has a three-game assist streak…Defenseman Johnny Boychuk and forwards Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl were the healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
