Will the Islanders have Dobson and Pageau for Game 1?
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders are the clear underdog heading into their first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
It will take every player in their lineup if they want to conquer what is the most complete team in the Eastern Conference.
The question is, will the Islanders have everyone?
Defenseman Noah Dobson, who took exponential strides this season, suffered an upper-body injury against the Montreal Canadiens last Thursday.
The 24-year-old defenseman did not play in the final three games of the regular season but did skate on his own Wednesday morning before the Islanders' regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dobson did return to practice on Friday, and was a full participant, taking line rushes alongside Alexander Romanov.
However, the Islanders were without Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
In what was a meaningless finale against the Penguins, forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau suffered an undisclosed injury in the first period and did not return.
This story will be updated following practice after we speak with Roy.