DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Sunday, October 12, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — Any lingering questions about Rick DiPietro’s status for last night’s home opener against St. Louis were answered when Joey MacDonald led the Islanders from the dressing room to the Nassau Coliseum ice last night for the pregame warmup. 

First-year coach Scott Gordon was vague about DiPietro’s availability to start following the pregame skate. Entering the third year of a guaranteed 15-year deal, DiPietro dressed for a second straight night and acted as MacDonald’s backup as he recovers from surgery to his left knee he had during the offseason. 

Gordon decline to address DiPietro’s specific condition and would not confirm if the left-handed netminder would be the choice to start Monday’s matinee against Buffalo at home. 

“You know what, I’ve done a lot of talking about Rick and I love talking about him but I’m not going to take away from what our team did tonight,” Gordon said about taking questions about DiPietro’s health. “For the time being; we’re going to pass on that tonight and I appreciate your patience with that.” 

DiPietro said after the game that reports about his knee experiencing swelling were inaccurate and added he is working his way into game shape. He also said he could have played in an emergency if MacDonald was injured. 

“I don’t know where that came from,” DiPietro said about the report previously published on TSN’s website saying DiPietro had “swelling and fluid” around the knee. “If there was enough swelling where it was a problem, I obviously wouldn’t be on the bench backing up.” 

MacDonald made 24 saves in picking up his first NHL victory since March 27, 2007 when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. The 28-year-old helped a four-goal first period for the Islanders stand-up, including a stop on Keith Tkachuk’s breakaway late in the second period to preserve a 4-1 lead in front of a sold-out crowd. 

Wade Dubielewicz was not brought back as DiPietro’s replacement in the offseason, allowing MacDonald to make the jump from AHL Bridgeport to the big club. The 6-0, 200-pound goalie said his current predicament will help him become accustomed to playing on short notice. 

“It’s a long season and a lot of games,” MacDonald said. “Rick is going to play a lot, and it’s important for me to be ready when I get the opportunity to be there and give the team a chance to win when I get to play.” 

Bill Guerin, the Islanders captain, said MacDonald has provided the club with a boost. 

“Joey really stepped up the last couple of nights and play great, and that’s what we needed,” Guerin said. 

At least DiPietro was in uniform, which wasn’t the case for a handful of his teammates. Mike Sillinger, recovering from hip surgery, came to greet the sold-out crowd in a suit. First-round pick Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau also were in street clothes because of undisclosed injuries. Both players sat out the Devils game and are waiting to make their 2008-09 debuts. 

Neither DiPietro nor Gordon would say if the former No. 1 overall draft pick would be ready for Monday. 

“If I wasn’t backing up, there’d be something to talk about,” said DiPietro, who also had hip surgery in March. “I’m going to do everything the doctors tell me to do and whatever the coach tells me to do. The doctors have a plan for me so that once I start playing, I’m not going to have to take nights off.”