“Islanders’ Noah Dobson Breaks Silence on Injury, Teases New-Look Defense Ahead of High-Stakes Return vs. Bruins!”

**BOSTON, MA** — New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is set to make his return to the lineup on Thursday night as the team faces off against the Boston Bruins.

The 25-year-old blueliner has been sidelined for the past 11 games due to a lower-body injury but is now ready to hit the ice after participating in several practices following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. “I feel good. I’m excited to be back,” Dobson said. “Obviously, it’s tough to miss an extended period of time, but I feel ready. I’ve had some good skates, and I’m looking forward to the challenge tonight. It’s been a mental and physical grind, but the two-week break helped because I wasn’t missing games during that time. I could focus on getting healthy and prepared. Now, it’s about keeping it simple early, finding my rhythm, and getting into the game. I feel confident after all the practices and skates I’ve had.”

Dobson will pair up with Adam Pelech, taking the place of Scott Perunovich in the lineup. Perunovich was one of three defensemen brought in by general manager Lou Lamoriello to fill the void left by injuries to key players on the blue line. Tony DeAngelo, who was signed by the team, and Adam Boqvist, claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers, will also be in the lineup against Boston. Meanwhile, Scott Mayfield will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game.

“Obviously, there have been a lot of changes since I’ve been out,” Dobson noted. “I think Lou has done a great job bringing in talented players who are also great people. They’ve fit in really well. With so many injuries, they were thrown right into the fire, playing big minutes, and they’ve handled it incredibly well. I’m excited to join them. I’ve been practicing with the new guys, and they all bring different skills to the table. The pairings have a good mix of puck movers and defensive-minded players, so I think it creates a nice balance for us. They’ve all done a fantastic job since joining the team, and we’re lucky to have them.”

The Islanders head into Thursday’s game trailing by seven points for a wild-card spot and five points behind the Bruins in the standings. Dobson’s return could provide a much-needed boost as the team looks to close the gap in the playoff race.