The Islanders had no choice but to go without Noah Dobson on Saturday at the Garden after the upper-body injury incurred by the defenseman two days prior was not healed in time for him to face the Rangers.
Dobson, who will miss his first game of the season with injury, was declared day-to-day by coach Patrick Roy.
Beyond that, a timeline for his return is uncertain with just two games to go in the regular season after Saturday’s.
“Well it’s a big piece of our team but again, when we lost [Scott] Mayfield, we gave opportunity to other guys and we approach it the same way,” Roy said.
The Isles have been beset by injuries on their blueline for most of the season, but Dobson had been the only defenseman in the opening lineup to avoid missing a game for injury until now.
Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Sebastian Aho and Robert Bortuzzo have all been on the shelf for extended periods of time since October, though all but Mayfield — who is out for the remainder of the year following surgery — are currently healthy.
Bortuzzo returned to the lineup Saturday to spell Dobson, skating on a pair with Mike Reilly.
Aho was paired with Alexander Romanov while Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock stayed together.
Simon Holmstrom was made a healthy scratch as Hudson Fasching drew back in, skating on the second line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
“He’s young, he’s learning and we want Fasch to play. You know how it is,” Roy said. “We’re down the road here and we don’t know what’s gonna transpire after the season. We need everybody to be able to play and be ready to play.
“We did it last game with Bortuzzo and Aho and today we do this one. We have everybody healthy except for Noah; the plan is to use everybody.”
