Noah Dobson ready for Islanders’ Game 1 vs. Hurricanes

NHL

By Ethan Sears

 RALEIGH, N.C. — The Islanders dodged one injury bullet but might still get hit by another. 

Noah Dobson practiced Friday and is expected to play in Game 1 against Carolina on Saturday, coach Patrick Roy said. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, however, did not skate and is day-to-day with a lower-body issue. 

“It’s good to be back with the team today,” Dobson said. “Feeling better. Trying to do everything I can to be ready for Game 1. Had a good skate today so we’ll see how the rest of today goes and tomorrow. Today was definitely a step in the right direction.” 

Dobson declined to say exactly what happened to cause the upper-body injury suffered against the Canadiens, which caused him to miss the last two games of the regular season. 

“Obviously, something happened,” he said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish the regular season off and the last few games.” 

If he was trying to be coy about his status, though, Roy put an end to that quickly. 

“Dobby was at the practice,” Roy said. “He’s ready to go.” 

That represents a major boon to a defensive corps on which Dobson has starred all year, becoming the first Islander defenseman since Denis Potvin to record 70 points and averaging 24:31 time on ice per game. 

Dobson said he expects to be his full self upon returning to game action. 

“I think any time you go out there, you’re making sure you’re capable of playing to your abilities,” he said. “Put in a lot of really good work here the last week or so to get ready. I’m confident if I’m able to get back, I’ll be good to go and be 100 percent.” 

Semyon Varlamov will start Game 1, Roy said. Asked whether both Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin would play this series, he demurred. 

“That’s a good question, but as of now, we’re going with Varly,” Roy said. 

Without Pageau at practice, Kyle MacLean skated between Anders Lee and Pierre Engvall while Cal Clutterbuck centered Matt Martin and Simon Holmstrom on the fourth line.

Mike Reilly quarterbacked the top power-play unit, with Dobson running point on the second unit. 

Carolina’s Jesper Fast (upper body) will not play in Game 1, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell told reporters. 

Lee missed the final game of the regular season due to the birth of his son, August. He was back at practice Friday. 

The Islanders signed goaltender Henrik Tikkanen and forward Alex Jefferies to two-year…