Islanders’ Noah Dobson out vs. Rangers with upper-body injury in latest hit to blueline

The Islanders had no choice but to go without Noah Dobson on Saturday at the Garden after the upper-body injury incurred by the defenseman two days prior was not healed in time for him to face the Rangers.

Dobson, who will miss his first game of the season with injury, was declared day-to-day by coach Patrick Roy.

Beyond that, a timeline for his return is uncertain with just two games to go in the regular season after Saturday’s.

“Well it’s a big piece of our team but again, when we lost [Scott] Mayfield, we gave opportunity to other guys and we approach it the same way,” Roy said.

The Isles have been beset by injuries on their blueline for most of the season, but Dobson had been the only defenseman in the opening lineup to avoid missing a game for injury until now.

Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Sebastian Aho and Robert Bortuzzo have all been on the shelf for extended periods of time since October, though all but Mayfield — who is out for the remainder of the year following surgery — are currently healthy.