The New York Islanders will have to try to get back in the wild-card race without one of their most important defencemen.

Noah Dobson had just starting heating up for the Islanders, but the defenseman is out indefinitely after suffering a lower-body injury.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The Islanders say there is no timeline for a return. Dobson left Monday’s 3-1 win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets after suffering an apparent leg injury in a collision with Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger.

Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson has no timetable for a return from the lower-body injury he suffered in Monday’s win over the Blue Jackets, the team told Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News and NHL.com.

In the New York Islanders ' matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, defenseman Noah Dobson left the game early due to an apparent injury in the third period. Dobson left the game at 1:14 of the final frame after taking a hit from Columbus' Cole Sillinger:

The New York Islanders had practice today — the first of three days before their next game, Friday — and confirming fears from Monday night, Noah Dobson was not involved. The defenseman left the game in the third after a landing against the boards that turned his right ankle and knee (sorry: lower body) in an unholy way.

The New York Islanders returned for practice one day after beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Monday night. During the game, Noah Dobson took a nasty-looking fall after a hit by Justin Danforth and did not return.