DP STOPS 13 OF 14 – Bridgeport 6, Springfield 2
Leaves after 2nd period with minor “tightness”
10:33 pm - Rick DiPietro stopped 13 of 14 shots over two periods tonight as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers won in Springfield, 6-2. Although DiPietro and the Sound Tigers are not alarmed, the goalie said that he played it cautious by leaving the game after the second period because he experienced “some tightness.” DiPietro said his discomfort was unrelated to any of his recent knee and hip surgeries.
“I felt really good out there,” said DiPietro, who recorded the win in the second start of his AHL conditioning stint. “I didn’t have the nerves I did with the first game. It just feels good to be back playing and contributing to a win again. I’m looking forward to the next one on Tuesday.”
DiPietro is scheduled to start for the Sound Tigers on Tuesday at home against Portland. It could be his final game before a return to the Islanders.
The Falcons’ lone goal against DiPietro came at 4:29 of the second period when Colton Fretter directed a centering pass from Charles Ringlet. Scott Munroe played the third period for Bridgeport and allowed one goal.
Bridgeport head coach Jack Capuano noticed a marked improvement in DiPietro from his performance last Saturday at home against Springfield. “Rick was in control from beginning to end,” said Capuano. “I thought he was extremely sharp.”
Springfield radio play-by-play announcer Mike Kelly reports that the game was “a tidy effort for DiPietro. Like Saturday, he didn’t get much action in the first period, but he made a few strong saves in the second and looked good playing the puck. For a second conditioning game after being away so long, Rick was very solid.”
36 Responses to DP STOPS 13 OF 14 – Bridgeport 6, Springfield 2
Leaves after 2nd period with minor “tightness”
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Brian from Massapequa says:
Watched this game on a small screen web feed. Saw DP make a few nice saves and saw the goal he allowed. Also saw Trevor Smith score on a penalty shot.
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Danbury Islanders Fan says:
Baby steps
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cody says:
why only one more game? keep him there for a couple of weeks what is the rush? what is the point of bringing him up and having three goalies. CB you said it yourself that biron wont be traded for a while. having 3 goalies up is pointless. keep rick down in bridgeport. He hasnt even finished a full game yet and were talking about one more game with brideport!? Havent we learned our lessons?
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Jeff in Oyster Bay says:
Great to hear this news on Ricky, if all goes well I say get him up here on Thursday to play against the bumbling Rangers. What a comeback to the Isles that would be. Garth better be working the phones and get Biron on the next plane out of Long Island. Garth needs to get a D-Man in here who is physical and doesn’t turn the puck over every other shift ie. Streit, Gervais. Otherwise maybe its time to pull the plug on this career backup goalie turned GM experiment.
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UConnHusky2011 says:
made the trek to springfield for this game – I was impressed with DP’s play. The one goal he allowed came off of a nice pass on a delayed penalty where the Falcons had 6 skaters on the ice for atleast 30 seconds…was back playing the puck like usual, can’t wait to see him back in the NHL
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Cody-
as per the cba he can go down for a 2 week only conditioning stint…after tuesdays game the two weeks is pretty much up.
it’s time.
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NYICHAMP39 says:
Bring Ricky back after the holidays. I say we bring back Weight and Ricky around the same time. Three conditioning games after 11 months out of the game is NOT enough. He needs at least 10 games down there before I would fell comfortable bringing him up.
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MJS says:
AHL conditioning stints are for a limited amount of time only; something like 2 weeks. So, DP can only stay so long.
I watched the web feed also. DP looked a lot better, though I wish he could stay down for the Tigers’ game against Providence as well. Not that he should be doing too many of them, but getting in back to back starts may have been a good idea and there would be a few days’ rest between the Portland and Providence games. Regardless, DP seemed to be trying to play a more technical game. I only saw him flop around once in this game. His alleged change in style may actually help him in the long run. Rather than being an acrobat that plays a butterfly style, he can be a butterfly goalie that is occasionally acrobatic. So, with less flopping may come a higher save percentage.
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Original Rob says:
C’mon back, DP… we miss ya, buddy!
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Good to hear … but is DP going to be NHL ready after only a 3rd game? He’ll only be 1 game removed after taking himself out because of “tightness” … even if it’s nothing serious … it doesn’t tell me he’s ready to hit the ice in the NHL. 14 shots 13 saves … sounds like a good outting. I’d like to see him get 2 more FULL starts at the very least.
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If he is placed on the NHL roster, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to play him. They could give him hard workouts in practice for 2 weeks while still dressing Roloson and Biron.
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Priest says:
Too bad he can’t have a longer conditioning stint. I understand why they would want to limit it, but they should tie it to the duration of the injury, IMO. Even though everything seems to be going pretty good, it doesn’t seem like one more game will be enough when he hasn’t even played 60 minutes yet…
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RylanIsle says:
god man this scares me
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BR says:
Lighthouse Nick is correct. Just because he’s on the roster doesn’t mean he has to be placed right into games. And, as others have said, under League rules a conditioning stint is two weeks. That’s days, not games. His time is almost up. One more game for the Tigers it seems.
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vukota says:
Sadly DP’s career will be over shortly. “Only mild tightness” Right…… What a shame this guy will never be able to play 50 games in a season.
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D-man says:
vukota… don’t be silly. he hasn’t played in a year basically. his second semi real game and he has some tightness? sounds normal so far. if he is medically fine then every time he does have some sort of ding or bang people like you will get all nervous and scared. all we can do is wait and see and try not to think the sky is falling
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teddyfusi says:
thanks for the professional input #17
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Jim Clark says: Hopefully “minor tightness” is not Islanders-speak for “It’s only a flesh wound.” Wait and see. I really hope DP comes back, both for the Islanders and because one of CB’s sons was wearing a “39″ jersey last Wednesday.
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rb says:
“Minor tightness”? That means he’ll be back by, uh, next November right? He’s right on schedule for a December return. But what year?
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isles72 says:
very interested to see how this all plays out while breaking him back into nhl game sharpness
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therain93 -- terriers fan says:
“Minor tightness” could also be a bit of gaming to put him on the IR just a tad longer and give him another 2 week conditioning stint. People shouldn’t flip out if this possibly happens. Remember, the olympic break is in mid february. He can be eased back in right before then and then given a 2 week break. At least, so I hope is the case. I’m in agreement that I’d like to see 2 full games of conditioning first but the cba prevents that from happening.
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Blizzard says: …good to see progress for DP. I echo concerns of reported tightness and I really hope its just a conditioning thing. However I have de ja vu with the its not related to any prior injury comment.
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JPinVA says:
There is no way I want to see DP starting games in an Isle uni before the new year. Maybe not until mid february when Biron is most likely gone… and he can prove health and readiness is not a concern. Roloson has definitely earned number one status, and Biron is a quality back up.
To be honest, and this is not going to be popular, I’d put him on the wire to go back to BP. It would be like hitting the lottery if somebody picked him up.
DP is a great team guy, and he is a better than average goalie, and a way better than average puck handler when he is healthy… but he is a $4M+/yr liability when he isn’t and we have 4 other guys in the system who may someday out accomplish him in an NHL uniform.
At this point he passes through waivers like a cool summer breeze. -
ralph says:
DP is done.
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Ricky says:
It is time to give up on DP. The Isles should try to trade him before he gets his career ending injury.
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cgs878 says:
Honestly, the Islanders are NOT a playoff team, so why not bring DP back after Tuesday? He can “relearn on the job” as he goes. He can’t be worse than Biron in net… yikes. If he lets in some soft goals, so what? Biron and Roloson have done that all season.
I do have concerns with the Islanders D being able to protect DP from being run into/over by the opponents’ big guys. Also, with the Islanders’ lack of D, DP would be forced to play the puck a lot. We can only hope that he’ll be alright while he gets his strength back. -
Blizzard says:
…I say lets see once and for all if DP can play with out his geriatric walker. His albatross of a contract demands it. Throw him in as soon as possible and let him prove to the league and the fans that he is worthy of his contract.
If he pops one of his many surgically repaired joints then he can retire and the Islanders and fans can finally move on. If he stays healthy and is successful then its a win for everybody. Enough with the DP drama.
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Dank516 says:
Dipietro good game last night! I dont know how you deal with all the hate. My prayers are with you and I hope to see you in an Islanders Jersey again soon.
Signed,
An Islanders Fan -
Brian in VA says:
You guys crack me up! Join the Cult of DP eh! Minor tightness will lead to another major injury… DP overrated and made of GLASS! Yay!
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You guys keep banking on rickety D. I’m telling you 4 operations before your 28th birthday isn’t a good sign for things to come. Also D-man nervous and scared? I don’t care if he comes back or not. Lots of goalies out there who are better and more durable, put hey you keep those fingers crossed that he will make a full recovery. You would fit in perfect with the Isles front office.
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FourCupsin4Yearsnot60 says:
Springfield has a radio play by play announcer and we don’t? Who’s the minor league team? (Ok, I exagerate to make a point.) I bet people can hear the radio play by play in the Springfield area as well.
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Good for DP, lets not get ahead of ourselves with him getting back to NHL form. He has not even played a full game yet.
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JOE.E says:
We signed an EGG to 15 years
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OJK says:
So obvious the past month hearing this once Brash and confident DiPietro talking very guarded. Very obvious he is really a long shot. So obvious also because of all the Goalies the Islanders drafted. Can u say Lindros insurance money ?….
Doubt that “tightness” is anything bad good to hear only one goal given up this time round