EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders were without defenseman Noah Dobson on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers after the 22-year-old suffered an upper-body injury early against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Whether it was a potential wrist injury from an accidental slash from teammate Alexander Romanov or an injury to his back/head after being sandwiched along the boards a second later, his absence is a major one for a team still trying to clinch a playoff spot with two games to go.
When the Islanders took the ice for practice on Saturday, Dobson was absent as questions loom about his availability for the final two games of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs, if the team gets in.
Dobson, 24, has 10 goals and 60 assists in 79 games this season.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.