RALEIGH, N.C. — Coincidence or not, the road of demarcation in Noah Dobson’s season proper now appears to be like prefer it got here within the last sport of November in opposition to the Sabres.
That was when Patrick Roy sat the defenseman for the ultimate 6:47 of a 3-0 win over the Sabres, as Dobson completed with 17:53 of ice, his lowest TOI since April 2023.
After beginning the yr with 10 factors (one objective, 9 assists) in 24 video games and a handful of late-game errors resulting in objectives in opposition to, it seemed like a message being despatched from Roy, even when the pinnacle coach didn’t explicitly say so on the time.
Within the eight video games since then, Dobson has eight factors — three objectives and 5 assists — and has seemed an entire lot extra just like the participant who dominated the primary half of final season when the Islanders wanted him.
“I think from game to game, there’s different things you see,” Dobson advised The Put up earlier than the Islanders misplaced 4-0 to Carolina on Tuesday. “I believe recently I’ve simply tried going on the market, taking part in free. Not overthinking something, simply utilizing my instincts, getting up the ice the place I can, but in addition being laborious defensively. Placing the onus on being laborious to play in opposition to as properly and defending properly.
“And I think when I do that, the offense comes from playing solid in your own end. Breaking pucks out clean, getting up the ice and getting opportunities from that.”
It’s been apparent to anybody watching that Dobson has upped his offensive aggression and brought to coronary heart that Roy needs him to skate with the puck.
There are additionally delicate adjustments each in how he’s working and in how the Islanders are utilizing him, with fewer offensive zone faceoffs and barely much less ice time — which Roy mentioned is likely to be serving to Dobson preserve vitality.
Dobson talked throughout coaching camp about eager to shoot the puck extra, however early within the yr, his pictures have been getting blocked extra typically.
That has not been the case as a lot recently, and Sunday in Chicago marked his season excessive with eight pictures on web.
“I was getting myself, at times, too wide or not in a good position where I’m in the middle of the ice to have better angles or pucks on net,” Dobson mentioned. “It’s something I noticed early on right away. So it’s something I’ve tried to put a cognizant effort on. Been able to get pucks through, just try and give our guys a chance in front.”
Anthony Duclair continued to skate with the workforce however didn’t return from a suspected groin harm Tuesday evening.
Roy mentioned Duclair has been medically cleared and it’s now about whether or not he feels 100% to go.
Bo Horvat was again within the lineup after lacking Sunday’s sport with a lower-body harm.