Rick DiPietro will undergo a doctor’s examination of his undisclosed injury on Monday, an Islanders spokesman said this afternoon. However, the team official could not confirm a report on Chris Botta’s Islanderspointblank.com, a team-sponsored blog, that DiPietro will be replaced by backup Joey MacDonald as the starter against the Rangers Monday night at the Coliseum and that Yann Danis will be the backup.
According to the team, Danis has been called up from Bridgeport on an emergency basis for the morning skate in the event DiPietro is ruled out of tomorrow night’s game. But no decision on the starting and backup goaltenders will be made until after DiPietro’s examination. Given that set of circumstances, it’s still conceivable, depending on what the medical staff determines, that DiPietro could start or at least dress as the backup, as he did in the first four games of the season.
Near the end of the Islanders’ optional skate at noon today, Islanderspointblank.com reported: “Goaltender Rick DiPietro re-injured his knee last night and will be ruled out of the Islanders-Rangers game at the NVMC on Monday. Yann Danis will be recalled from Bridgeport to back up Joey MacDonald.” Botta also said DiPietro suffered his undisclosed injury in the first period of Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Carolina, which is why MacDonald replaced him at the start of the second period.
But the team spokesman was unable to verify the accuracy of that report by Botta, the Islanders’ former vice-president of media relations. The spokesman was authorized only to confirm that DiPietro would undergo a medical examination and that Danis and defenseman Brett Skinner would be at the morning skate on Monday on an emergency basis. Skinner was called up as a possible replacement for defenseman Freddy Meyer, who suffered an undisclosed injury against the Hurricanes but completed the game, assisting on a third-period goal by Sean Bergenheim.
The only Islanders who took part in today’s optional skate were defenseman Andy Sutton, who is on the mend from hand surgery, and rookie center Josh Bailey, who also has an undisclosed injury.
Responding to questions from Newsday about his team’s non-disclosure injury policy, Islanders general manager Garth Snow again defended the policy as a way to protect his players from being targeted by opponents, and he cited NHL rules that permit teams to withhold detailed injury information if they desire. Many teams choose to provide specific injury information, including recovery timetables, but others do not.
Comments (9)
I wouldn't be surprised if the "injury" is nothing new and DP has not fully recovered in the off-season and felt he could play through whatever was ailing him. Although he can be seen doing this when healthy, he seemed bent over a few times when the play was at the other end and not feeling comfortable.
Last night was a valient effort--although virtually every mistake cost them. If Weight had score and they won in OT, it would have been one of the most memorable I ever attended. I also think it's the first time they lost when Hillary was there...so it looks like along year.
Who cares. Hopefully he is out for the season. I personally have had with DP and his glass body and this organization. Franchise player my a$$! What the HE!! has he done! Give me a break. There are alot of players in the NHL who have done alot more who don't get the recognition this bozo gets! Give Danis a try for Gods sake, he couldn't do any worse then that egocentric moron did. Those were horrible goals and anybody who doesn't think they were needs to get their heads examined, probably the same people who believe this guy is actually injured. He's not injured he just sucks!!!! Enough already!!!!!!!!
I wrote my view on the "undisclosed injury" and "general body soreness" excuses the other day - it's worth a read given the ridiculousness surrounding this policy.
Link in the sidebar to the right or click my name.
Who cares if DP plays--irrelevant....the useless "youth" have no scoring or hitting ability....this is a painful season already!
Wang...wake up, fire your hires asap.....Bobblehead mania roars on.
Maybe we wouldnt have to worry about players being targeted if there were guys o nthe team to deter that. Obviously, Nate Thompson isnt tough enough to take on guys that will do that, he lost to Gleason last night.
I guess Logan achieved his objective and incited the "masses" to rail against the Islanders, the ownership, Snow, Gordon... (people are calling for Gordons' head already... 7 games in...), DiPietro - (some are suggesting that he's tanking it... ???), they're complaining about the guy who painted the ice, the ticket scaner, the bathroom attendent.... the guy who wrote the "goal song".. etc etc etc.
Is everyone 8 years old... give me a break people. Grow up and enjoy a hockey game. Be a true fan and support your team. You don't have to like everything that goes on... but please stop the insane comments.
DiPietro is hurt. Get over it. He's not tanking the season because he doesn't like the "youth" movement.
Did you happen to see Bettman on the after game coverage last night with his take on the new league policy regarding the injury policy the league is instituting?
The problems in this league go far beyond the foibles of the individual teams, and Isles fans, you have one hell of a season full of those ahead. I don't envy you.
Fans, the murkiness in the Dipietro situation is being aided and abetted by someone a lot higher than the coaching staff. The 'marketing genius' running this league strikes again...
(Or is that locks you out? I get the two confused when he's involved.)
DOC......Well said. I agree with everyhing you mention. DP is an extremely competitive guy and I am sure that he wants to play every minute of every game. While I do doubt Mr. Gordon 's veracity, my suspicion is that DP has not fully healed and that he has rushed himself back before he was completely ready to play.
Not unusual for a guy who takes every game to heart.
Gordon, on the other hand, should try just telling the truth for once. I do realize that he is in a tender position, but it must be killing him inside to continue to repeat this non sensical party line that Snow has foistered upon him. I would think a whole lot more of Gordon if he just told the truth and let Snow look like the fool that he is quickly becomming.
Anybody else miss Dubie? J Mac is average at best. Everytime the Isles fought back, he gave up a backbreaker. I said in the beginning of the season that Snow would regret losing Dubie.
I wish he was back.
On another note, if we ever get to a shootout who the heck is going to shoot for us. I look at the roster and I don't see a single soul who comes close to Kozlov or Satan.
Did anyone here doubt for a second that Weight was going to miss that shot? He hit Ward right in the team logo. Not even close.
How good has Mark Streit been? One bright note in an otherwise dismal start to the season........Sir William
The following post is made with a great deal of sarcasm.
It's a good thing the Islanders have a policy of giving little information about team injuries. Without it, they would be last in the NHL in points