PITTSBURGH — This was a big-time play by a big-time player in a big-time moment, what Noah Dobson did in the third period Sunday night.
The Islanders had just tied the Panthers at 2-2 when Dobson, right from the faceoff, took the puck off Sam Reinhart and skated from just below the red line all the way to the crease, around Seth Jones, for the eventual game-winning goal.
“It was off a faceoff on their winger, got a good poke on it,” Dobson said. “Saw their D-man was kinda flat-footed a little bit. Just try to have that attack mindset, take it to the net. Was able to finish it. Obviously a big goal. Happy to contribute to a big win.”
It was a moment straight out of last season, when Dobson scored 70 points on what looked like an ascent into stardom.
That’s hit a speed bump or three this season, with Dobson struggling to find the same rhythm and confidence in his game, and getting hurt in January to boot.
He’s producing nearly a full point less per 60, struggling to make the same impact every night.
The underlying numbers are fine — his 54.82 expected goals rate at five-on-five is actually much better than a year ago, thanks mostly to improved defense — but anyone watching the Islanders nightly can tell you that the confidence, the assertiveness with which Dobson played with the puck on his stick a year ago, has not been the same.
Beyond the immediate ramifications of Sunday’s win in the playoff race, that is why Dobson’s seventh goal of the season might be his most important.
“I know he can do that more often,” coach Patrick Roy said. “And I’m not trying to be negative here, because he’s got so much talent and skills. So when he makes a move like this, that’s what we want to see from him: Challenging the defenseman.
“In the first period [on a similar play], instead of going around the forward on the neutral-zone regroup, he tried to dump it in. I was happy to see him go around [the defenseman] this time and burn that D and bring it to the net because he’s so talented. It’s nice to see him do a play like this.”
More than that, it’s necessary if the Islanders have any shot at a run into the playoffs.
Brock Nelson is gone, traded to Colorado.
Mat Barzal is in recovery from knee surgery and might miss the rest of the regular season.
The Islanders have never exactly relied on skill to win, but they are now without two players who consistently brought that to a lineup generally lacking.
Someone needs to step up.
Dobson, whose point production has fallen off massively this season, needs to step up.
More plays like that one.
More games like that one, with Dobson skating a total of 21:58 and recording a 63.71 expected goals rate at five-on-five while matched up against Florida’s top line of Evan Rodrigues, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.
The Islanders playoff window looked like it was slamming shut around 9 p.m.
Sunday, when they were down to Florida and the Rangers were tied with Edmonton, when a loss and a Rangers win would have put them eight points back of a spot.
Ninety minutes later, both results had gone their way and the Islanders were four back with two games in hand and four of their next five at home after Tuesday’s game at the Penguins.
This can be their time.
Without Dobson doing more of what he did Sunday, it won’t be.