The Islanders’ regular season took a decided downturn when Adam Pelech injured his Achilles tendon on Jan. 2. At the time, it was expected to be a season-ending issue.
Yet the top-pair defenseman was able to return to the lineup for the delayed postseason, which began on Aug. 1, after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the regular season on March 12. But Pelech was again unfit to play for Thursday night’s win-or-else Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Rookie Noah Dobson made his postseason debut in Pelech’s place.
NHL policy mandates teams not specify why players are absent.