The Islanders dodged one wounding bullet, but could still be hit by another.
Noah Dobson practiced Friday and is expected to play in Game 1 against Carolina on Saturday, coach Patrick Roy said.
However, Jean-Gabriel Pageau has never skated before and suffers from lower body problems.
“I’m happy to be back with the team today,” Dobson said. “I’m feeling better. I’m trying to do the best I can for Game 1. I had a good skate today, so we’ll see how the rest of today and tomorrow goes. We definitely got it right today. It was a step in the direction.”
Dobson declined to say exactly what caused him to miss the final two games of the regular season after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Canadiens.
But if he was trying to be modest about his position, Roy quickly stopped it.
“Dobby was coming to practice,” Roy said. “He’s ready to leave.”
