One Punch Knocks Out Islanders Season
FollowGoalie Rick DiPietro was looking to spark his New York Islanders teammates when he squared off Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Brent Johnson. Unfortunately one punch to the head will sideline Dipietro for four to six weeks with broken bones in his face.
The Islanders, who are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, have little chance of making the playoffs. Now that Dipietro is sidelined and Dwayne Roloson traded to the Tampa bay, the Isles have little chance of gaining ground in the standings. Evegeni Nabakov, who the Red Wings signed two weeks ago but lost on waivers to the Isles, could have filled the gap but he has decided not to report to Long Island and has been suspended by the team.
While there is nothing quite as dramatic in hockey as watching two goaltenders skate to center ice to square off, such decisions can be extremely costly. In this case it put the finishing touches on what has been a dismal season for the Islanders. Dipietro may have had good intentions, but he will now have to watch from the press box with another lengthy injury as the season winds down.