Canadiens' Dobson Game-Time Decision for Game 7

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson will participate in pregame warmups and remains a game-time decision for tonight's decisive Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Martin St. Louis announced Monday.

Dobson has been sidelined since April 11 with an upper-body injury. The initial prognosis called for a two-week reevaluation, and his potential return aligns with that timeline. St. Louis expressed optimism about Dobson's readiness, stating that if the player feels able to suit up, he would face no limitations on the ice.

The 25-year-old right-shot blueliner provides a major potential boost to Montreal's lineup in this elimination game. Acquired from the New York Islanders, Dobson enjoyed a strong debut season with the Canadiens, recording 12 goals and 47 points. He logged an average of 22 minutes and 29 seconds of ice time per game, including two minutes per game on the penalty kill, despite not running the team's top power-play unit, a role held primarily by Lane Hutson.

Dobson's absence has strained Montreal's defensive structure. The Canadiens currently have only one healthy right-shot defenseman in the lineup, forcing left-shot players Hutson and Arber Xhekaj...