It looks as though all systems are go for Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro to return to the lineup for Game 2 against the Sabres Saturday night at HSBC Arena. It came as no surprise to Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, who described the situation succinctly: “Desperate times, desperate measures.”
This is DiPietro’s second time around the concussion track in a month. The first time, he did not undergo a neuro-psychological test before returning against Tampa Bay after a week on the sidelines. But this time, DiPietro has consulted with an independent neurologist and has gone symptom-free for a week and has passed the test he failed shortly after suffering his second concussion on March 25 against the Rangers.
Despite a more cautious approach, Islanders fans have to hope this isn’t a case of the tail wagging the dog. Of course, DiPietro wants to take part in the playoffs, and he certainly has the ability to make a difference. But it’s still been less than three weeks since he suffered a recurrence of symptoms after suffering blows to the head against the Flyers and then the Rangers.
Two small moments caught the eye today as DiPietro went through his first practice and the interviews that followed. Toward the end, after taking a series of shots, DiPietro was unsteady for just a split-second and then hunched over looking as if he were trying to catch his breath. That’s when his workout ended, and he skated off bent over in a resting position. The other noticeable reaction came during the interview session when a TV cameraman suddenly turned on a bright light on DiPietro’s face, and he seemed to reel slightly, shading his eyes.
It could have happened to anyone, it could be nothing, it could be a reporter looking for something that isn’t there. If DiPietro plays in Game 2, as most expect he will, you just have to hope the steps that have been taken this time are sufficient to protect DiPietro from himself for his sake and for the long-term future of the team.
You know the Sabres will test him early with a barrage of shots and try to crash the net to see how he handles it. Collisions always are a possibility in hockey. But DiPietro said he’s not worried. “It’s hockey,” he said. “It’s a rough sport. Whatever happens, happens. But I’m confident I’ve done everything in my power to be 100 percent.”
Comments (34)
Game 2:
Islanders 5 Sabres 3
Dipietro 37 saves.
Concussions: 0
Good luck, Rick. Go Isles!
The Isles need to make this a WAR! I'm watching the sharks-preds game right now...those guys are hitting everything in sight. We can not let them leave their zone without another bruise. Its funny how speed leaves the legs when they're black and blue...
I think DP will be fine. At this point, he's predisposed to concussing. It can happen tomorrow night again, or it can happen in 5 years. If he's passed the neuro test, he should play- as long as he's seeing the puck. I don't care how competitive he's feeling, or how good he was before he went down, if he's not seeing the puck well because of this time off, he shouldn't be playing. As Barry McMullet Melrose said, goaltending wasn't our problem...though DP will give us a lift, and will help with playing the puck on their forecheck...
Why not us? BELIEVE!
If Dipietro starts, and then goes down again, who's going to be the backup in waiting? Dubie or Mike "can't stop a beach ball" Dunham?
Ted Nolan, on the off chance you're reading this, PLEASE don't put DP in net until he's wholly ready. The future health and viability of this franchise depends on a healthy DP, and I'm fully OK with riding Dubie for as long as we can last these playoffs. Please think about what's best for the team long-term rather than what's best for the team tomorrow.
Either way, we need to improve our transition game and hit each opposing player like he's Sean Avery or Darcy Tucker. We can win if we make this a physical contest, and regardless of who's in goal we need to have confidence that we can take chances offensively and either DP or Dubie will stop it.
I'm excited for this....I'll be watching tomorrow night, and we need to go FULL-TILT.
Why not us?
3 Canucks players out in Game 1. It's going to be tough tonight.
2-0 for Dallas, 3 minutes into the 2nd.
DP will play tomorrow. Let's all say a prayer...
Agree NyIsles, which is why so many fans on these blogs have been calling for Steve Webb all season to return. Maybe Steve Webb's not available, but there are guys on every team like him, except for ours. We don't have a player that can truly throw a hit. Sure this is a gritty Islanders team that gets by on hard work, not so much skill. But the Islanders don't have a player who has their opponents star players looking over their shoulders for a fearful Islander who's going to blast him with a hit. There isn't a guy on the Islanders who anyone fears of getting hit from. You're watching the Nashville game. How would you like Jordin Tootoo? That guy is a difference-maker just from his hits. He has the Sharks playing scared when he's on the ice. That's his role and he does it well, just like Webb did in his day and Ryan Hollweg does for the Rangers and George Parros does for the Ducks and Cam Janssen does for the Devils and so on and so on. WHo on the Islanders does anyone in this league truly fear of taking a monster hit from? The answer is no one. Anyway, let's win Game 2 tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right RANGERS RULE.
Just like the Isles couldn't get into the Playoffs with 4 games remaining.
RANGERS RULE, if I was putting money on it, it would be Buffalo. Anyone who can read the standings can see that. But then that would be boring.
Did you cheer for the Chicago Bulls when Jordon played? If you did, you were wasting your time. They didn't need you.
True the Rangers are peeking at the right time. But the stronger the Isles get, the better for both team. It will be good for hockey if both teams become dominent.
I was dumping on Naslund weeks ago and saying was similar to Yashin. But I have to admit, he is playing like a man on mission tonight. Driving to the net and splitting the D. I haven't seen him play like this since they first put the C on his chest.
4 minutes left in the second. Still 2-0 Dallas.
Even if we lose tonight it is good for the Canucks to see Naslund come to life.
RANGERS RULE. I understand Don Cherry is going to work your game on NBC tomorrow. Enjoy!
Fact: Most Rangers fans are idiots
Fact: Rangers Rule needs to get a life and stop running his mouth
Fact: 1 Win vs Atlanta does not equal a Stanley Cup parade
Fact: The Rangers have been a joke since 1925 or whenever they came into the league, congrats on your 4 years of success since then.
Let's come back with the split tommorow fellas!
I found Sean Avery's mouthpiece in my skivies.
Ok Rangers Rule have a good time.....
Dallas is just playing dump it in and keep away now.
Yes I am bias, but refs are sucking on the wimp calls.
10 minutes left, still 2-0 for Dallas.
yay, the rags are going to beat Atlantia, what a great feat! you really think they'll get much further than that and would fair any better against the sabres? get over yourself and run along to your own blog. Lettin-In was lettin in shots that my grandmother would have stopped, and you guys still just about handed them the game. better hope Hedberg doesnt make a few saves in game 2 or you could have your hands full.
LGI and LG Trashers
I miss Martin Rucinsky. I have a man crush on him.
Aww Mike and Rangers Rule tucking each other into bed? How sweet.
how come there are so few postings on the ranger blog? the isles have already had a successfull season and everything else is gravy. the rags have two rapidly aging superstars and a piece of crap named sean avery who hasn't shown his true colors yet. wait till they lose a couple in a row, or God willing a playoff series. Avery's fingers will be pointing in so many different directions at his team mates that your head will be spinning. pressure is on the rags and they have as good a chance to beat the rest of the east, not to mention the west as we do
Dipietro isnt going to steal any game(s) from Buffalo. He'll need to play perfectly of course, but if the Isles dont score on the PP and take too many penalties...it wont matter who is in net. Battling the officials isnt easy either. You know nobody wants to see the Isles upset Buffalo. These Isles will need a heaping of the old Islanders magic...
RANGERS WILL BE SWEPT NOW...SERIES FINAL THRASHERS WIN 4 GAMES TO 1. SORRY RAG FANS. DREAM ON. HA HA!
It's sad in a way how pathetic the comments section here has gotten. And, as it pains me to say this, this is due to the immaturity of certain Islanders fans who think they have to be "cute" and take shots at another team -- a team the Islanders aren't even playing again until October at the earliest.
Let's at least try to keep our eye on the ball here and win our first playoff series since David Volek's goal in '93.
Real brilliant placing your franchise goalie's career in jeopardy to perhaps win one game and avoid an embarrassing sweep
I don't think DP is ready. I saw him interviewed on MSG by Deb Kaufman last night, and he was giving circuitous answers to the "how do you feel" questions. Deb asked him something like, "Are you all the way back from your concussion?" His answer was about 40 words long, he basically said "I feel as well as I'm going to feel and time to help the team."
Which is all well and good. But this isn't the last year of his contract...he has FOURTEEN years left and Buffalo isn't going to let up on him.
Athletes have a long and proud history of playing through injury, but this ain't a broken finger or a sprained ankle here.
Until he can answer the question above with one word only - "Yes" - I'm very wary about him playing. To me, it's not worth it, and it's better to go with Dubie, who's been playing for two weeks, than DiPietro, who is likely rusty as hell.
Geez. Keep your fingers crossed, folks. This is either going to go very well or very badly. Gonna be up to the front five to take care of him tonight.
Why not us? Here's why from the Buffalo News.
Even the Islanders seemed surprised to make it. Signs of slapdash postseason preparations were troubling. Star winger Jason Blake peeked at the Sabres morning skate and asked if Maxim Afinogenov was playing again. The dry-erase board in the Islanders’ dressing room didn’t have Tim Connolly’s number on it, had Drew Stafford on Derek Roy’s line and listed Clarke MacArthur as a scratch.
Afinogenov, the Sabres’ leading scorer last season, played the last three regular-season games. Connolly had played the final two games and was centering the fourth line with Stafford on his right. Mac- Arthur was sent to the minors last week.
“No question, our scouts did a great job in giving us enough information about Buffalo,” Nolan said. “We did as much as humanly possible to prepare our team in the last couple days. They’re a very explosive club. Their first game at home, the crowd was behind them.”
What a joke!!!!!!!
Hockeybob: The Isles playoff blog has the actual story on that. http://newyorkislanders.com/pressbox/archive.asp?id=1576
Hockeybob: The Isles playoff blog has the full story on that. Take a look at http://newyorkislanders.com/pressbox/archive.asp?id=1576
The Islanders blog has half the actual story.
"How Blake didn’t know Buffalo’s 2005-06 scoring leader was back in uniform remains a mystery." - Today's Buffalo News
Still good seats available at the Mausoleum for a PLAYOFF GAME . . . some real deal fans you've got there, Mr. Wang
Regarding the blog and Dipietro hunching over and his reaction to the camera lights...come on Greg! The dude hasn't practiced in weeks! What did you expect after a practice, for him to run 5 miles? And I'm willing to wager that most peoples initial reaction to the bright camera lights is to wince. Everyone is concerned, but this is unsubstantiated speculation.
WAAAAAH HULL KICKED IN THE WINNING GOAL!
WIDE RIGHT!
WAAAH MY FOOTBALL TEAMS GM IS A 1000 YEARS OLD.
WAAAH OUR HOCKEY LOGO LOOKS LIKE A SNAIL!
hey joe divola,
we have much in common, i like the isles, just like you like the rangers, but i hate the rangers even more than i like my own team, so i'm rooting for the devils to win their series and ottowa as well, just so i have some insurance that if the rags are lucky and get by atlanta, they have NO chance to advance. i figure that you're like me because i see you posting negative crap against the isles on the day of the rangers biggest game of the season....lets go isles!!, but especially, rangers die!!!
Puttin in DP won't make a huge difference. Doobie has been solid so far. I'm confident with him in net, and I think the same goes for the team.
However, our play desperately needs to change for game 2. We need to play a more physical game, and shoot the puck much more. Oh yeah, and we have to avoid bad penalties.
The Isles can still win this series. Game 1 took some wind out of our sails, but it's far from the last word.
A final note on DP: worst case scenario, the man's health may be at risk. So why don't we try and avoid jokes about headaches and the like?
Why not us?