Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro said everything felt good in the morning skate today at the Coliseum before the second game of the year against the Rangers, and that was all coach Ted Nolan needed to hear. “He looks ready to go to me,” Nolan said, “so, he’ll go tonight.”
DiPietro’s status was in doubt after a stick to the right eye from Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby on Saturday night, but the blurred vision he experienced in the immediate aftermath of that incident has cleared up. So, it came as no surprise that DiPietro was primed for what should be a battle of the goaltenders against the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist, who pitched a shutout against Philadelphia last night at Madison Square Garden.
“The only consideration was for the safety and well-being of Ricky,” Nolan said. “Anytime you go near the eye, that’s a pretty serious thing. We’ll count our lucky stars it wasn’t more serious than it was. Whether it was the Rangers or anybody else, Ricky’s health is more important than anything.”
Although DiPietro said he might consider an equipment change to protect against another stick getting under his mask the way Crosby’s did, a face shield or closer bars on the cage might be impractical for a goaltender. Defenseman Bryan Berard, who lost most of the vision in his right eye because of a blow from a stick, expressed some skepticism about potential remedies.
“He was talking about it, but a visor definitely distorts your vision a little bit,” Berard said. “Then, with the fog and the scratches, I think it would be a tough thing to [put a visor] in his eyeholes. If you squeeze the bars, they’re in your line of vision, too.”
The best thing might just be for the Islanders to keep their fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen again. After all, DiPietro said it was the first time in all his years playing hockey that a stickblade ever got inside his mask.
“I think the odds of that happening again,” Berard said, “are a tough possibility.”
GAME NOTES: Forward Tim Jackman was called up from Bridgeport to replace Aaron Johnson, who is out six weeks with a sprained right knee. Jackman will be at right wing with fourth-line center Ben Walter and left wing Chris Simon. Jackman also skated on Walter’s line with the Sound Tigers…Berard skated with the rest of the team today for the first time since going on the injured list with a pulled hamstring, and forward Sean Bergenheim (shoulder, finger) also put in a good workout. Both players are shooting for a return against the Devils Saturday, but Nolan said he might exercise some caution with Bergenheim because there’s no point in risking further injury to a young player so early in the season.
BLOG NOTE: For what it's worth, I'm planning to post a blog later this afternoon sharing my view of the significance of Al Arbour night.
Comments (38)
Glad to see Ricky's OK and will start in goal.
GO ISLANDERS !!
good deal on the Rick
Logan,i can not wait for your blog on Arbour night. i hope you put Jim in the closet for the rest of the year.
Logan,let jim b. know that he was late delivering my paper this morning.
What!? Tim Jackman is going to replace AJ? I thought Nolan only played defensive defensemen at 4th line wing! And another enforcer? I guess it won't matter b/c this new 4th line isn't touching the ice tonight.
Great to hear DP is healthy, and going to play.
Greg,
Thanks for the practice line info. It's stuff like that which makes the blog idea attractive.
However, I'd rather see Park on the fourth line, and Walter up with Satan and Vasicek. It splits the inexperience up, and allows that fourth line to get more than 3 mins of ice time... instead of the 2:56 on the ice, 9 Mins in the box it is set up to get.
No doubt Park deserves some A or B ice time... but not against the Rangers... Hank needs to be crowded... and the Islanders need to finish their checks... I'd rather have Simon with Satan and Vasicek than Park.
But...I haven't coached in the NHL... but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last month...
I'd rather see Park be rewarded against the prednisones or blue ballers... When he played with tambellini last year it was like instant offense when they were up against the standard oversized and under skilled opposing fourth line... but park against a solid line of two way players that can skate scares me a little... a favorable match up would exist against the ranger fourth line if Simon and Jackman are out there with him. Simon can jam up the front of the net, and Jackman is a solid battler type.. I'd rather have Park's puck handling and forechecking ability out there with those two. It just seems to make more sense.
Crystal Ball:
3-1 Isles... one into an empty net (HILBERT). Guerin and Simon will get the other two for the Islanders... Dawes is the lone scorer for the rangers.
Isles outshoot the rangers 36-28... but the rangers get the 8 of the final 10 shots... hilberts goal is a deflection off his thigh... the first thighed in empty-netter in team history...
Islanders'll win tonite 4-1. No real Rangers fan believes we can win this one tonite. Lundq has been carrying this team the season so far... he will be burnt out and spent tonite after last nights game.
Avery the little girl that he is will get reinjured tonite, the first time he comes within 5 feet of Rickey. Simon will tattoo KOHO on his forehead, and on a stretcher and off the ice he will go.
New Yorks best area team....
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JP -Hilbert empty net via hip deflection..a new classic..but more likely it will bounce off his stone hands
Wow... Rag fans get riled up by winning 4 out of 5 games. Same as the Islanders. Rangers are a sad team.. took them 3 more games to pass the Islanders. With that kind of record Rags won't sniff PO's this year.
Rag Troll... Philly is still first place in the division. Rags aren't close to first in the conference or league. Learn the stats idiot before you say rags are in 1st place. Only in your head. LOL
what is an icelander besides a stupid name that makes no sense. i know where you got it from but makes no sense and really is not a bashing like the Rags....b/c you we know all you trolls need them
Welcome back Greg. I see you have your work cut out for you already. Geezzee!
Good to see all the kids have made it to the computers to have fun before the big game tonight.
JPinVA,
Where did you get that crystal ball?
Hope you kept the receipt!...lol
Is it game time yet?
its 2pm.. the kids got out of school on mommy's labtop again
Gotta shoot high tonight guys. Lady Lund goes down early and covers the low ice better than most. Tough to beat him low. Got to shoot high above the shoulders when he is down (reference Berards winning goal against Rangers in meeting #1). We also need to create traffic in front of his net, can't let him get good looks at the puck. He is playing too good to beat him with shots from the perimeter.
This riivalry is way more intense when both teams are playing well like they are.
I would like to see the momentum we built from Saturday's game carry over into tonight. Hopefully the guys glance up at the 1500 banner for a quick reminder of what hard work acheived.
It would have been nice to see a game this year with both Simm & Avery playing, I guess we will have to wait until next year.
the only thing with the rangers that bothers me ...is that if someone on their team thinks they have are being hooked or another so called penalty on them..they raise their hand and the refs call penalty
key example: avery last nite raised his hand crying and was saying he was being hooked the whole time.. then the ref called the penalty not before but after he raised his hand...i notice this is what they do, they expect something...like tonight the fans for the rags will scream and cry they didnt get this or that penalty...is this what hockey is now...
the good old days....are long gone
Midnight Marauder -
Dude, to wish a concussion on anyone, even your rival goaltender is pretty lowbrow. I'm pretty sure that Mike Richter's career ended due to a head injury, and despite my hatred for the Rangers, I still respected Richter as an athlete and a human being.
I would hate to see Lundqvist's life altered and carreer threatened by a head injury, just as I would hate to see anything happen to Ricky.
As for Avery, I wouldn't mind seeing him crack his head open! ;-)
I predict, Islanders will trounce the Rangers by 4-1.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!
Isles in LA;
that wasnt him who posted. it was a rag troll.probaly that guy Gary..he just got off of his short bus around 1pm it looks like
Mookie,
I got it on eBay. The write up on it said that it was originally purchased in 1941 from a man in Bagdad. Among its many predictions...
Japan will remain nuetral...
Germany, after winning WWII will create the WORLD LEAGUE OF SOCIALIST STATES.... just missed.
Jackie Cooper (THE CHAMP/1931) will be the greatest american actor... It must have meant Jackie Coogan (uncle fester).
In 1941 it also predicted the NY Rangers will win the stanley cup every year after.
So you gotta give it some credit... it's 1 for 67.
So I had it adjusted... my mother-in-law is an expert with broken balls... and since then it's been pretty accurate.
Thanks for clearing up the troll droppings, Greg.
BIG test tonight, if they stay focused, Isles should do well. I hope Witt rides Jagr all night like a drunken sailor on shore leave...
Good post JP...got good laughs
Thanks MJ, I would never wish for anyone to get hurt, EVER!
I hate the fact that we have to watch this game tonight on the non HD pain in the rear channel Versus. It always takes me 20 minutes to find that channel (worse then when I'm looking for FSN 2).
As for Hilbert, the only way he scores tonight is if he doesn't get caught kicking the puck in during a scrum in front of the net.
Park up on the 2nd line also doesn't make sense to me ... I like somebody's suggestion of blending youth w/ experience (throw Walter on that line) and let a line of park, Simon and Jackman cause about 10 minutes of chaos tonight.
Isles in LA,
Although I have onlt been on these threads for a few months, the true fans know that I am not some computer tough guy nor a moron wishing anyone on any team an injury. Trust me, few fans dislike the Islanders more than I do, but I respect most of the players on that team, especially DiPietro. He is a great goaltender and the fact that the Rangers and Isles have two excellent goalies just hitting their prime, is going to make this rivalry fun for quite some time. Fun is what this sport....or any sport is all about(well maybe except Jai Alai). Rivalry games are what I look forward to most during the regular season. And like I have said in previous posts, on many different threads, it's great to see both the Islanders and the Rangers have playoff worthy teams. We can only hope for a Rangers-Islanders playoff series. The National Hockey League is crossing their fingers for that, you can count on that.
JP ~
That "Mother-in-law broken balls comment" might have to be put in the top 5.....Very funny stuff.
Simon and Jackman on the same line...Classic! Orr and Sturdwick better be ready. I think this game might live up to the hype. I am a little nervous about the outcome to be honest. DP will be TESTED big time tonight. They MUST stay out of the box. This Rags offense is going to explode one of these days, and the Rags sill do not have a win on the road....Makes me nervous!
Is Henrik playing?
MidnightMarauder,
Right on!
:)
Rangers appear to playing better as a team, although they still look surprised when they score a goal. I expect a low scoring, tight-checking game.
Kevin T.
Now Gary is ripping his own fans. Now you feel our pain MM. The guy is a loser.
i wouldnt mind seeing walter on the second line but Park is like a ball of energy when he is out there as well as hilbert. These two are hustlers who are not going to be talked about much but are important in their roles for the team.
Hilbert, i just do not get where his offense went b/c we was a goal scorer in the AHL and juniors, yes i know it was AHL. but i do not see to many signs of it yet but his hustle, pk, and plays make up for it
JP:the crystal ball is great....i am glad you got it fixed.
Midnight: the rivalry is great for NHL, i hate the rangers with all of my heart and as well would never wish injury.but would like to see some teeth on the ice....good old hockey
funny part is my family are Rag fans....something happened to them, i am still trying to find out what it is...
I agree with Steady. I have the feeling the Rangers offense is due to bust out. I just hope it's not tonight. We have to show up, ready to compete and most of all skating hard! When the Isles are not moving, the Rangers offense can have a 'swarming effect.' We need to neutralize their key guys, which CAN be done. Hopefully, Nolan defines everyones' roles.
MJ,
My family, fortunately is nothing but pro-Blueshirts. I do have a few friends that are big time Islanders fans and the ripping doesn't stop between us. They got the better end of the rivalry last season, would like to see that change, starting tonight. As far as the trolls are concerned, what can be done to rid ourselves of these numbskulls? I know, in all walks of life there are people that should have ended up on their father's hankerchief instead of...well you know. But it's a little ridiculous that people can't enhoy not working at work and talk hockey with other hockey fans, =).
Newbie; its the same as ..on your blog....when you talk about all the rangers fire power over the summer....it hasnt happened so you try not to talk about it..
the rags d is playing well and moving the puck quickly..but it seems game plans change when we play each other.
Isles Bri,
Versus is available in HD, where I live Cablevision country
(South Shore, Suffolk Co.) Versus is on 408 and in HD on channel 719.
anon::gary. stop posting i saw you post like this twice today so we know its you..
leave all over us alone: i mean leave all the hockey fans alone
here play on this site for awhile;
http://www.nickjr.com/shows/blue/index.jhtml
I was raised to never boo a ball player (or hockey player) and never wish for injury. I must admit that certain players over the years have tested that train of thought.
Avery, Tucker, Barnaby, John Rocker, Fluery lead that list.....Then again it shows they are great at their job (except Rocker.)
Steady: you forgot Dale Hunter
Hey all... I agree with the posts re not wishing for injury, respect for the other side. It's called sportsmanship -- you can love your team and hate the archrival but still be sportsmanlike about it. It's one of the most important lessons in youth sports for sure, and it's what the Olympic athletes are referring to when they talk about everyone coming together united by the love of sport. I know it sounds corny, but it is true. I hate the Rangers but I am a fan of Mike Richter (for example) because of his excellence and his class. If I followed the troll's orc-like, empty emotional life, I'd hate Richter just because he was a great player for the enemy. Crazy!
BTW, who is meeting at Doolin's tonight after the game?
i ll might stop down at doolins afterwards..wearing a sim jersey..
hey Logan, can you delete that one terrible/stupid article Baughbach or whatever his name is wrote? thanks
If anyone goes to the LINK or that story, there are hundreds and hundreds of comments from fans of all different hockey teams telling him that he is an idiot. The comments are great, I recommend reading through them!