NEW YORK– Noah Dobson will not be in the lineup for the New York Islanders today against the New York Rangers while he nurses an upper-body injury.
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said Dobson’s status going forward will be determined on a day-to-day basis.
Dobson left the Islander’s game against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in the first period after skating just three shifts. The Islanders are already shorthanded on the backend with Scott Mayfield out for the remainder of the season, and losing Dobson for any stretch could be critical with a playoff spot still within reach.
“It’s a big piece of our team,” said Roy. “But again, when we lost Mayfield, we gave an opportunity to other guys, and we will approach this the same way.”
Dobson is in the midst of a career year, posting 70 points in 78 games.
Without Dobson available to face the Rangers, Robert Bortuzzo will slide back into the Islanders lineup after being a healthy scratch on Thursday. He will pair with Mike Reilly, while Alexander Romanov will form a tandem with Sebastian Aho. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock will remain together.
As for changes up front, Hudson Fasching will slot back in, taking the place of Simon Holmstrom next to Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
“[Holmstrom] is young, and he’s learning, and we want Fasching to play,” said Roy. “We’re down the road here, and we don’t know what’s going to transpire after the season. But I mean, we need everybody to be able to play and be ready to play.”
The Islanders have just two games left on their schedule following today’s tilt with the Rangers.
If they manage to collect at least a point today, it opens the possibility for them to clinch a playoff berth should results around the league fall their way.
The Islanders and Rangers will drop the puck at Madison Square Garden just past 12:30 p.m. EST.
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