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CanadiensNoah Dobson Is a Game-Time Decision for Game 7

His return would ease Montreal’s right-side shortage on defense.

Apr 5, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) looks on against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Head coach Martin St. Louis said after Sunday’s morning skate that Dobson will take warmups and the team will decide his status before puck drop.
  • Dobson has been out since April 11 after a puck struck his glove against Columbus, resulting in a thumb injury listed as upper body.
  • The 26-year-old logged 22:29 per game this season with 12 goals and 47 points, handled penalty-kill minutes, and often drew top matchups next to Mike Matheson.
  • Montreal has only one healthy right-shot defender, pushing Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj to their off side, so Dobson’s return would rebalance pairings.
  • The first-round series has been razor tight with all six games decided by one goal, and Tampa Bay forced Game 7 with a 1-0 overtime win on Friday.