New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is out indefinitely after suffering a right-leg injury during Monday night’s 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena, the team announced Tuesday.
Dobson suffered the injury when Columbus forward Cole Sillinger cross-checked him up high in the corner of the Islanders’ zone. While falling backward, his leg bent awkwardly, which immediately raised concerns about his long-term availability despite him skating off the ice under his own power.
The 25-year-old is one-half of the Islanders’ top defensive pair, though he has struggled at times this season. After recording 10 goals and 60 assists (70 points) in 79 games last year, Dobson has just six goals and 18 assists in 46 games this season.
In his absence at Tuesday’s practice, head coach Patrick Roy paired Alexander Romanov with Scott Mayfield and Dennis Cholowski with Isaiah George. Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech remained together.
Veteran blue-liner Mike Reilly has been out since Nov. 1 after undergoing a heart procedure. He is currently working his way back, but general manager Lou Lamoriello said on Jan. 9 that he still has not been cleared for contact. He is, however, skating on his own before team practices.
Losing Dobson is a significant blow for a team that is struggling to keep up with the rest of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Despite winning two straight games, the Islanders are rooted to the bottom spot of the division, three points back of the seventh-place Pittsburgh Penguins. They are also seven points back from the final Wild Card spots in the conference, which are currently owned by the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins entering Tuesday night’s action.
Kcassman