Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson waited patiently to score his first NHL goal.
New York found little difficulty in scoring against Red Wings goaltenders Tuesday night. The Islanders chased Detroit's Jimmy Howard, who allowed three goals on seven shots, before Calvin Pickard was inserted into the game. The young Islanders defenseman cashed in with a little help from the opposition.
Red Wings defenseman Alex Biega accidentally deflected Dobson's shot as he attempted to bat the puck away out of the air. The goal may not have been highlight-reel worthy, but it was a memorable moment for Dobson, who celebrated his twentieth birthday on Jan. 7.
Seven different Islanders reached the back of the net in the 8-2 win — Brock Nelson led all skaters with two goals.
Dobson, a 2018 first round draft pick, appeared in 18 games since he made his Islanders debut in October, registering three assists throughout the span. He tallied 36 points in 28 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 208-19, prior to making the jump to the NHL.
"It's definitely nice, kind of get the monkey off the back," Dobson said. "Something you don't have to worry about as the season goes on."