Dobson’s Injury Update: Columbus Blue Jackets Game Suspicion After Suspicious Shot

Defenseman Noah Dobson returned to the Montreal Canadiens lineup on May 3, 2026, for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dobson had been sidelined since April 11, 2026, after sustaining an upper-body injury during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The injury occurred in the second period of the April 11 contest, which resulted in a 5-2 loss for Montreal. According to team reports, Dobson was hit in the left hand by a slap shot from Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski. Following the incident, the Canadiens announced that Dobson would be re-evaluated in two weeks, a timeline that ultimately saw him miss the remainder of the regular season and the opening games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Lineup Adjustments for Game 7

To make room for Dobson’s return in the do-or-die matchup at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, the Canadiens removed defenseman Arber Xhekaj from the lineup. Head coach Martin St. Louis expressed confidence in the impact Dobson would have on the game, stating during a morning availability that he’s been a big player for us this year and that he was confident that if he plays, he’s going to bring something.

Dobson’s presence provides a significant boost to the Montreal blue line. During the 2025-26 regular season, he played in 80 games, recording 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points. He also averaged 22:29 of ice time per game, the third-highest on the team, and tied for the NHL lead entering the April 11 game with 187 blocked shots.

Game 7 Developments

The return of Dobson coincided with a critical offensive breakthrough for the Canadiens. Captain Nick Suzuki opened the scoring in the first period, a development described by RDS as the captain unlocking his performance to give Montreal an early 1-0 lead. The game followed a tightly contested series in which all six previous matchups were decided by a single goal, including four overtime finishes.

The Canadiens’ defensive strategy during Dobson’s absence relied heavily on Alexandre Carrier, who moved up to the top pairing alongside Mike Matheson to fill the void. Other defensive minutes were distributed between Jayden Struble, and Xhekaj.

Acquisition and Contract Background

The 2025-26 season marked Dobson’s first with the Canadiens after he was acquired from the New York Islanders in a sign-and-trade agreement on June 27, 2025. As part of the deal, Montreal sent winger Emil Heineman and two first-round picks from the 2025 NHL Draft (Nos. 16 and 17) to the Islanders.

Concurrent with the trade, Dobson signed an eight-year contract extension with the Canadiens valued at $76 million. The acquisition was intended to add an experienced puck-moving presence to a defensive unit that already featured reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.