For the first time since Steve Begin’s knee clocked him in the head last Tuesday in Montreal, goaltender Rick DiPietro put on the pads and skated today in practice. And not a moment too soon because the clock is ticking on the Islanders' playoff hopes.
As bad as the Islanders have looked while surrendering 18 goals in three straight losses on a road trip that concludes tomorrow night against Tampa Bay, they still are tied for ninth in the thick of the playoff race. Depending on how DiPietro responds to the effects of his head injury, the Isles could start winning again just as quickly as they began losing.
DiPietro’s comments after practice will appear in tomorrow’s editions of Newsday, but he was encouraged by his first practice outing in a week, said he saw the puck well and felt as sharp as could be expected. Obviously, he was cleared medically to return to the ice, but he still must wait to see how he responds overnight and in the morning skate tomorrow before a decision on his playing status is made.
The smile on coach Ted Nolan’s face said it all about how excited he was to have DiPietro back in uniform. Again, he also urged caution to see how DiPietro is tomorrow, but if all goes as well as it did today, the Islanders should have their regular goaltender back in net against the Lightning.
If DiPietro starts, Nolan said Mike Dunham would remain in his role as backup even though he was “fighting the puck” the past three games. Bridgeport goaltender Wade Dubielewicz will remain with the team as a precautionary measure. If DiPietro isn’t ready to start against Tampa Bay, Nolan said Dubielewicz likely would get the call.
NOTES AND QUOTES: Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced no charges will be filed against Islanders forward Chris Simon, who hit the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg in the face with his hockey stick on March 8 at Nassau Coliseum. Simon was suspended by the NHL for a minimum of 25 games, including the rest of this season and all of the playoffs…Nolan also made a change with the forward lines, dropping Viktor Kozlov to the fourth line with Richard Park and Arron Asham and moving Richard Zednik up to play left wing with center Randy Robitaille and right wing Miroslav Satan…Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron went home to Quebec to be with his wife, who was expected to give birth today, but Bergeron should return in time to play against the Lightning…Mike Sillinger and Ryan Smyth tied their career highs with four points apiece in the Isles’ 8-5 loss to Florida.
Comments (59)
Great news on DP - any word on if Bruno's back as well?
I'm not sure which news is better - DP back on skates, or Kozlov to play with Park and Asham while Zednik plays with Robitaille and Satan.
These line moves make perfect sense. Kozlov is a puck hog. He's at his best when someone can hit him with passes in the high slot. Both Park and Asham are willing to do that, and your not sacrificing much in scoring potential in doing so. Nolan obviously saw what was obvious to most in the Florida game - Zednik played with alot of speed and energy, and he was willing to mix it up in the corners. He should combine well with Robitaille's speed instill more energy for Miro to feed from. It's also encouraging that they will have had a full 2 days to prepare with these lines.
They should come out with a renewed sense of energy regardless of whether DP or Dubbie is in the net. Sometimes it just takes one decent win to get the momentum ball rolling.
WHY does Nolan love Dunham so much? Why play him last game? Why not Dubie? Why not pull him after that first period? It was so clear he didn't have it. It's as though Dunham is blackmailing Nolan. It makes no sense. Is Nolan stupid or just an idiot?
let's go PITT tonight!!!!!
Greg-
Any comments from Nolan about throwing Dunham under the bus and blaming DiPietro's injury on Begin? What a classy guy! Talk about true colors when there's adversity. Then he brings up Avery and insults him.
What did he want Begin to do? They guys got a bad back. Typical Nolan, blame, blame, blame. Maybe he should turn that microscope on himself. He wouldn't like what he sees.
JD, give me a break..good for nolan for sticking up for his team and throwing someone under the bus that deserved to be HURLED under the bus. nolans doing a hell of a job with this team so let him keep on working his magic
Nolan's handling of the goaltending situation in Dipietro's absence has been some of the worst coaching descissions I have ever seen by this franchise. Dunham was begging to be taken out on Saturday and Nolan cost us the game by standing idle. I like what Nolan has done with one glaring exception. He has less faith than Joe Torre in anyone who is not a seasoned veteren. Dubie should have started Saturday or replaced Dunham after he let in the 3rd goal.
Before the season started how many Islanders fans would have signed up for 9th place 1 point out down the stretch....If Ricky is back we will make the playoffs!
Go Isles
sniff I am starting to cry....
drive for five i agree Nolan's decision to not pull Dunham was bad but not after the third goal. hindsight is 20-20, so after three goals, just about no goalie is pulled, by the fifth goal he should have pulled Dunham and put in doobie.
I think Nolan is trying to take the heat by making controversial comments. He knows Dunham, despite playing poorly, can handle a few knocks... and by blaming Begin, he sort of takes the heat off of DP. He's been the ultimate pro (Nolan) the best coach we've had since Radar, and he really knows what he is doing. He's very calculated, much like Torre is with Yanks.
i would LOVE to see doobie as our backup next year
torre with the yanks? wtf are you on. the yankees spend all the money in the world and they still cant win. the mets own new york.
Mets own New York?? Please they don't even own Queens let alone New York. The Yankees are New York City. As for hockey, this is great news on DP. Skeletor while I agree that back in September we would have been thrilled to be where we are, when we are in a spot and acquire a Ryan smyth at the deadline, we can't be satisfied with slipping to 9th place. I still see the Isles making a surge here.
If Nolan had a brain he would send Hilbert to the AHL and bring up Tambelini...
The Hilbert Silinger Hunter line has been mostly ineffective for some time...
And who wants to bet that the negative ll boys Witt and Hill will be paired together again...
Nolan you idiot wake up
Kicked in the Junk,
Screw PITT! You guys are heading south in the standings real fast! Lets see LeCalavier and Marty St. Louis pummel DP until Doobie gives DP a rest after the first period!
Those damn rags are looking good, gotta give it to em. Hell, if they make the playoffs I'd love to see them get knocked out by the devs again.
With DP back I think we should do alrighty, Tampa is a tough club but I think we are going to come out swinging. These changes seem logical considering recent play and I am sure in these past two days, Coach Nolan has been drilling a "two-way" style game into their heads. Let's spark it up Isles, time to make the playoffs!
I didn't want to make this a yank vs. mets thing... but dude.... remind me again what the mets have won?
Great!
What happened to all the RA RA RA Islanders are the best you people have been talking for weeks?
Reality has set in kids? Back to blaming people and an empty coliseum?
I am going to love coming here when the Rangers finish in 6th or 7th and the Isladers finish in 9th that 1 point out of the playoffs and you all go back to be the bunch of sorry fair weather fans you are!
LETS GO RANGERS!
Pete...
I look forward to seeing what you have to say when the Rags make it an even TEN, yes 10, years without a playoff victory!
As long as Ricky or Doobie is in net and RR doesn't play on the pp 2 unit point, I think we will be flying home with 2 points.
Pete I don't recall seeing you or any other Ranjerk fans over here when we were sitting in a playoff spot and you were out ...talk about fair weather fans ...PLUS, how is a Ranjizz fan going to talk about blamming other people ...after every penalty called against your squad of ladies the players, coaches and fans start crying blamming the refs ...the rags have never taken a penalty in their entire time in the league according to their "fans" ....the Ranjerk fans were even booing their team yesterday because they didn't look good on the PP - yeah, you guys are great fans ...
I've been a huge islander fan for 15 years, and I think I have the right to say you guys to keep your mouths quiet about the rangers for now. Our fortunes have completely reversed since the trade deadline and they are the ones going into the playoffs that i think no one would want to play. Lets get back into playoff posistion and actually beat one of the teams we might be play in the playoffs before we stick our neck our too far for further embarrasment
Brian - I look forward to what you have to say when the Icelanders make it FOURTEEN, yes, 14 years without winning a playoff round!
And what was that, you all think it was nice of Ryan Hollweg to not press charges on the degenerate...oh, I'm sorry....that "great man" Chris Simon? I thought so.
Alan ~
Your beloved Rags have had the HIGHEST PAYROLL in hockey 10 straight years adn you are YET TO WIN ONE GAME.........You have made the playoffs once in that time and got swept.....
Everyone on this post has seen more cups in their lifetime then you ever will so go back to bed and keep dreaming!
As for Holwig please...Next time maybe he will drop the gloves with Simon and REALLY get hurt .... Tell that punk to take a shower!
Typical of Rag$ fans to come to Islander sites/blogs/etc and talk smack. Are things that pathetic on "your" blogs?
Ryan Hollweg is a little girly man goes down like he was shot in the chest when all he had was a little cut on his chin...if Simon really wanted to hurt him he would have swung through and we would have a headless Hollweg...
GERS FANS U CAN'T RIP ON THE ISLES IT'S NOT OUR FAULT OUR GOALIE CAN'T STOP A WRAP AROUND...AS IF SOMEONE TELEPORTED ONE OF THOSE 'NHL 94' GOALIES INTO REALITY...YOU KNOW THE ONES...WHO GET STUCK ON THE POST IF YOU MOVE BACK N FORTH BEHIND THE NET
You people are priceless.
Highest Payroll? You still going on about that? Its over, called a Salary Cap. Come up with something new.
Everyone on this post has seen so many cups because that is the only time you people pay attention to your team. Buy a ticket, go to a game!
Still going with Hollweg? Let it go! Brashear should have gotten suspended when Witt got shot in the chest too right?
Pathetic, Tampa wins tonight and even more of you disappear tomorrow!
Rangers 6th
Isles 9th
You heard it hear first!
its amazing!!!
Everyone loves the backup goalie.
We lose with dubie or dunham. Period, amen.
Now maybe the DP haters will start to see he is not that bad after all.
15 years? who cares we may be dead by then! LOL
Witt got right up you moron....Pete is Pathetic
Pathetic pete..
dont tslk about attendance. just cause businesses buy the garden tickets doesnt mean your packin the house.
i was there early in the season when you guys sucked and it was just as quite as the colliseum.
that storyline hasnt floated for years. you talk about old comments. give me a break.
i give you credit you guys have played well lately though. might even win in the playoffs but do you really think your going to the cup? LOLOLOLOLOL
All new yorkers are dreamin if they think lord stanley is making an appearence anywhere in the staet with the eception of Buffalo. Or like every year maybe accross the river
Show up to the games! The arena is half full! Do all the yelling you want here but you don't go to games.
Gotta agree with JD on this one, stop typing on your coputers and just go to games. Better yet, go to some games in Canada or Europe first, learn how to be a fan, and then go to Islanders games. It will be more fun for all involved.
OK. Instead of this meaningless argument between fans of the two teams, let's get some news on Gervais. When will he be back?
Pete,
Horsecrap Pete! Do a search engine on NHL attendance and the Freckin Isles are 29th out of 30 teams somewhere around
12,400 +/-. St. Louis is the only team worse. Don't pull that crap about business tickets. Every team does it in baseball, hockey, basketball. It goes by tickets sold. I have a friend who has Isles season tickets and he reads the attendance in Newsday the following day and he says there is no way that those numbers are real! They baloon them up. How else is Mr. Wang going to convince Nassau to build a new arena. And let's do a on line poll. I'm a Ranger fan and I've been to three Islander games this year. How many games have you been to Pete? And what about the rest of you GM hopefuls?
GERS FANS U CAN'T RIP ON THE ISLES IT'S NOT OUR FAULT OUR GOALIE CAN'T STOP A WRAP AROUND...AS IF SOMEONE TELEPORTED ONE OF THOSE 'NHL 94' GOALIES INTO REALITY...YOU KNOW THE ONES...WHO GET STUCK ON THE POST IF YOU MOVE BACK N FORTH BEHIND THE NET
best comment of the day. i remember that. we used to play round robin tourneys and had to outlaw that move.
Pete,
Sorry Wrong Dude. That was targeted to Stogy. C'mon Stogy. How many games have you been to this season. Or do you plop your flat lazy ass in front of the TV watching FSNY, whose ratings are even really low. So screw the # of fannies in the seats. Check the TV ratings for Rangers vs. Islanders. Oh, that's right, business's watch more Ranger games too.
why, if DP plays, is Duhnam still the backup? he should be our emergency goalie at this point and havw Dubie as the backup. i don't get it. but if DP is out, then Dubie starts? makes no sense to me. break up witt/hill please.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007
1 since 40,
Tell me. Is that the number of times you got laid when you turned 40. Poor guy. Anyway, we come to this blog to antagonize the s**t out of you guys. Isles are having a tough time. You guys gotta be a little nervous with the State of Affairs in Islanderland. DP bumped his noggin,"General Muscle Aches", Defense finally showing their holes, Yashin probably thinking about Carol Alt other than hockey,"Thank You Ron Greschner!" Simon out till next year. What else can go wrong! Isles not make the playoffs. Not so bad. Even if the Rangers lose to the Devils or the Sabres in four games, at least were in. You guys freckin hate it and you know it. Only a few of you guys can admit it!
if DP has to leave the game for any reason, then we have Duhnam again. WTF??????????????? put Duhnam upstairs and Dubie should be the backup.
Why has there been no uprising about the stick swing that Modano made during that confrontation with Nashville? I think the double standard has raised it's ugly head again. Modano can swing his stick with intent with no suspension, but Simon can't. Maybe it's because Modano caused no injury, but that can't be it because Simon caused no injury either. A little cut to the chin, poor baby. Someone has to take a look at the Modano swing and tell me why no mention of 'intent to injure' has been made.
where can i see video of it?
Nolan has gotten more out of Kozlov and Poti than I ever expected.
Was DP's me first attitude what helped cause the injury? Saying that it didn't matter that just because it was a 4th liner with just 4 goals shouldn't affect whether you leave the net is typical clouded DP thinking. But the guy has greatly elevated his game.
The Russians are useless. Zednik is not the same player since he took that huge hit in the play-offs. Kozlov is just what you see no more. Yashin is.....well, you know. Satan though not a Russian belongs with them. Lindy Ruff and Drury were thrilled to see him out of Buffalo.
None of these guys are "Cup type" players. They may have better stats but none is the player Hunter, with less talent, is. Hunts is a winner something the other four don't seem to care about.
IslesHurcsfan,
No way Madano gets in any trouble for that and don't even compare it to Simon!
just saw the tooto and modano clip on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWw_VrQiSMU
not even close to Simon.
Y'know, we can needle each other back and forth (though you Icelander fans are rather defensive, edgy, and, in some cases, sophomoric), but really, a little common sense and objectivity please. To downplay what Simon did goes way beyond team loyalty. Just wake up and take a look. It hasn't been shown repeatedly on national news shows, thus bringing yet another black mark to the sport, because it was a "tap to the chin." It was a criminal assault, plain and simple, regardless of what you might have thought of the check that preceded it (which, by the way, no objective observer has thought anything untoward of). The fact that Hollweg wasn't seriously hurt is a stroke of luck for both parties. Even your guy Howie Rose called it "indefensible." Really, man, grow up and show just a little class, like Hollweg did for not pressing criminal charges.
Tooto is a pu$$y.
IslesHurcsFan,
First of all what the hell does that mean (IslesHurcsFan), you root for the Isles and the Hurricanes? What does that give you better odds of making the playoffs?
Second, Modano didn't even come close to ",..swinging.." his stick. Watch the video Nimrod!
I have seen the video and he obviously swings his stick and connects with the other player's back. I agree, it's not nearly as bad as Simon's swing. However, the WAS a swing of the stick with intent to injure. And yes, I grew up in Uniondale, so I am naturally an Isles fan but I now live near Raleigh and root for the Hurricanes as well. Unless the Isles are in town.
Do we have any news on who's starting in goal tonight?
I agree with IslesHurcsfan. There is definitely a swing of the stick right at the other guy's back.
here an idea...why dont u rag$ fans go back to your own board and post stufff on there and stay the puck away from ours???u guys are really pathetic
Islesfan222,
Since you're paying attention, it obviously bothers you Islesfan222. How many games have you been to? let me guess? Zero!
IslesHurcsFan,
Yes, there was somewhat of a swing. In fact I thought TooToo should have gotten more than 5 games. He took a huge punch! Simon getting what he got compared to Tootoo does seem a little unequal. And Raleigh is a great city. I flew done there last year to see the third game of the Eastern Conference Finals between Buffalo and the Canes. Good Game. Great Time.
Boooo Hoooo!
Make me! I'm telling on you!
What happened to good old rivalry ribbing?
So who do we root for tonight?
TAMPA BAY!
Rag$ Fan,
Go Tampa Bay! Rock & Roll!
Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecalvalier should be swarming the cage around DP. DP may need another Doctor before the end of the game!
Oh Yea..
He's playing hurt tonight!
umm actually @$$hole rag$ fan i've been to 10gms so far this year, its not a whole lot but thats all i can do with working...how many shitty rag$ gm have u gone 2????
Well, its official we are TRULY Done. Bye Bye Smyth!! Bye Bye Blake!! But at least we have our truly awesome Captain and we will re-sign Robataille and Hilbert. We also have Park and Bates locked up for a few more years. YES!! My isles are lookin good in the future!! Lets see next year we will finish 24-48-10 can't wait for that!! DP is going to face 50 shots a game next year and kill off 9 pp's a game too!! DP should ask for a trade cuz he has to stand on his head for this team to pull out 1 point. DISGRACEFUL!!
What a choke