New York Islanders star defenseman Noah Dobson is day-to-day after suffering an upper-body injury, head coach Patrick Roy revealed on Saturday morning before his side’s game against the crosstown-rival Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
The 24-year-old blueliner exited Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens just 5:33 into the game after it appeared he was hit near the wrist area by fellow defenseman, Alex Romanov.
He did not return to the game, which the Islanders managed to pull out in overtime for a sixth successive victory to open up a three-point advantage for the third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Dobson is having the best season of his young career, which has garnered Norris Trophy consideration. In 79 games, he has 10 goals with 60 assists, becoming just the second Islanders defenseman in franchise history alongside the legendary Denis Potvin, to record 60 or more assists in a season. He is also the third blueliner in team history along with Potvin and his brother, Jean, to record 70 or more points in a season.
Including Saturday’s game against the Rangers, the Islanders have just three games remaining in the regular season. Without their top defenseman, clinching a playoff spot will likely become all the more difficult.
In his absence, his usual partner, Romanov, will be paired with Sebastian Aho while Robert Bortuzzo draws into the lineup alongside Mike Reilly.
