Canadiens’ defence delivering in playoffs without Noah Dobson | HI/O Bonus

The Canadiens went into their first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning without defenceman Noah Dobson, who is sidelined with what is likely a broken thumb.

The Canadiens were able to split the first two games without Dobson, who probably won’t be ready to play before the series is over. After suffering the “upper-body injury” during a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on April 11, the Canadiens said Dobson would be re-evaluated in two weeks.

An official separates Lightning right-winger Corey Perry and Canadiens defenceman Alexandre Carrier during a first-period scrum in Game 2 on Tuesday in Tampa, Fla. Luis Santana / Tampa Bay Times

In this Hockey Inside/Out Show bonus episode, The Gazette’s Stu Cowan is joined by former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Rick Green and Chris Nilan to discuss how big of a blow the loss of Dobson is to the team and how the other defencemen have performed in his absence.

The panel also weighs in on defenceman Arber Xhekaj being benched for the entire overtime period of Game 2, which the Canadiens ended up losing 3-2. Was that a smart move by head coach Martin St. Louis?

We will have two more bonus episodes coming up and will be back with our Weekly Hockey Inside/Out Show next Thursday after the Canadiens and Lightning meet in Game 5 the previous night in Tampa.

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to the Hockey Inside/Out YouTube channel. The Hockey Inside/Out Show is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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