LIVE BLOG: RICK DiPIETRO COMEBACK
Bridgeport 7, Springfield 3; DP: 7-10 for the game
FanHouse: CB on Rick DiPietro’s Road Back
(photo by Rich Stieglitz)
6:42 pm, Bridgeport - It’s Rick DiPietro’s first hockey game in eleven months and we are here. If he makes it through healthy, he’s expected to play 20-30 minutes.
6:44 - DiPietro makes it through warmups! (and the Pulitzer is in the mail).
7:00 - The DiPietro Effect on Sound Tigers attendance? Minimal. There are about 1,000 fans here. Line of the night already by Brian Compton of nhl.com: “Greinke must be pitching.”
7:07 - Game begins. In a suite at center ice: Charles Wang, Garth Snow, Rick DiPietro, Sr.
7:09 - DiPietro plays dump-in on way to net, throws sweet outlet pass to center ice. Tens roar.
7:10 - Makes first save, a glove stop in traffic off a wrister from Johan Motin at the point.
7:12 - Matt Martin makes it 1-0 for Bridgeport at 3:40 of the first. The Charles Wang owned-and-operated Sound Tigers play Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” as the goal song.
7:19 - Eight minutes in and DiPietro has still only seen the one shot.
7:20 - Comes far out of the goal to play the puck. First “Hey DP, stay in the friggin’ net” of the season is shouted.
7:22 - Cue Gary Glitter: Greg Mauldin makes it 2-0 Bridgeport.
7:27 - Shots are 11-2 Sound Tigers. Maybe Jack Capuano should tell the boys during this broadcast timeout to loosen up the D.
7:30 - The unofficial DiPietro statline so far: 2 saves, 2 clean clears, 2 turnovers. 5:34 left in the first.
7:33 - Perty, perty goal by Jesse Joensuu at 16:09. 3-0 Sound Tigers.
7:34 - Rick has now received more goals from his Sound Tigers in one period than Marty Biron has gotten all season.
7:35 - Springfield power play. Hit the net, fellas.
7:37 - They did not.
7:41 - End of the first period. Shots 15-3 Bridgeport. I’m not exaggerating: DiPietro has not had to bend his knee, go into a split or break a sweat.
7:42 - Arthur Staple of Newsday, Dan Martin of the Post, Compton of nhl.com and the clown from FanHouse grab some popcorn and Diet Coke and try to figure out what to write about.
8:00 - Second period begins. DiPietro still in goal.
8:03 - On first shot of second period, DiPietro allows a very soft goal. Motin’s 70 mph slap shot without traffic sails through DiPietro’s five-hole. The rehab assignment takes a different turn.
8:06 - First back-to-back saves handled cleanly by DiPietro. If he doesn’t get much more action, will he play entire second period?
8:11 - Springfield makes it 3-2 on their seventh shot of the night. This goal, a top-shelf backhand by Geoff Paukovich is not a softie.
8:15 - Rick comes way out of the net again, then a sarcastic cheer from the two guys in Section 102 when he plays the next chance without incident.
8:21 - Springfield ties it up at 3-3. Bill Thomas bangs in Liam Reddox’s pass from behind the net. Three goals on nine shots – not a good night for DiPietro.
8:30 - DiPietro makes solid save on Springfield power play.
8:31 - As you might expect after being away almost a year, the sharpness is just not there. DiPietro gives up a big rebound on a shot he’d usually handle with ease.
8:32 - After Springy hits the post, DiPietro makes his best stop of the game by far – a glove save in close on Vladimir Trukhno.
8:34 - Rick’s night is over, presumably. He made ten saves on 13 shots.
8:53 - Scott Munroe in for DiPietro to start the third period. Word has it Nathan Lawson is a little banged up.
9:02 - Greg Moore makes it 4-3 for Bridgeport.
9:04 - DiBo makes it 5-3. Munroe will get the win.
9:05 - Trevor Gillies beats the boogers out of Kip Brennan.
9:21 - Matt Martin decisions Alex Plante, the first round pick Edmonton acquired in the Ryan Smyth trade. It’s 6-3, by the way.
9:25 - DiBo makes it 7-3.
9:36 - Munroe makes 15 saves in the third. The Sound Tigers win, 7-3. A strong night for all of the Islanders prospects. They knew the GM was in the house!
10:00 - After a hug from Charles Wang after the game, DiPietro meets the media:
“A lot of work to be done.”
“Good to get out there and shake the rust off. You can only do so much in practice.”
“Tomorrow’s a big day. I’ll do my treatment and hopefully wake up tomorrow feeling good.”
Comments on this post only. Continue discussion of Islanders-Tampa Bay game in next thread. Thanks for the updates.
48 Responses to LIVE BLOG: RICK DiPIETRO COMEBACK
Bridgeport 7, Springfield 3; DP: 7-10 for the game
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teddyfusi says:
i love dp i really hope hes back for real
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kevin says:
i hope he does well tonight and doesnt get injured =)
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did rick do a conditioning stint with BP the other times he was injuired?
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Brendan says:
wooo first save!!!
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Chris A says:
Wow hope DP never makes the same mistake the Springfield goalie just did almost comical
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Eye on the island says:
You know, I was about to move on with the whole goal song thing but not anymore. Thanks cb
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Benvi says:
If it wasn’t snowing there would ten to twenty more people there. I mean I would be. Now i stay home and drink moulson allnight while i watch the snow fall
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Isle_in_LA says:
I like the jerseys:)
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VinnyMoose says:
I love the white Unis. Can’t wait till the big boys rock em next year.
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NHL Move by Joensuu, and Figren is flying.
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JKP on LI says:
Whining about the goal song is sooo 2008. From the stream, it sounds like the Tigers fans haven’t embraced “you suck.” If they did, and if their games were nationally televised, I suspect you’d see a change in policy there as well.
Agree that the uniforms look great. I’d prefer the cup era stripes and spacing myself, but that’s a little nitpicky thing. Looking forward to the switch.
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JustinChi says:
CB providing comedy with the DP information. Outstanding.
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mmm22 says:
Joensuu showing off for the brass…
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matt says:
omg why do islanders always have to get cheated puck was clearly covered
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Hey CB, i know they said he will play 20-30 minutes but with this lack of shots, will they let him play more??
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IslanderNation says:
CB, update on Isles game:
Lightning leading 1-0. Malone took 2 wacks at Rolosson’s glove to jar the puck into the net after the refs refused to blow the whistle.
Damn refs.
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stephen says:
Would be nice if DP’s return to the big club gives the same boost its given the Bridge.
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Dreu Theran says:
DP shoulda had that one. Not good.
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Brutal DP just brutal
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TimQ says:
Weak, weak goal
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Rob P says:
I live in Queens and have time warner… Is this game on tv?? I’ve been scrolling up and down for 15 minutes.. Is there even such a channel as MSG Plus 2?? So freakin frustrating…. Freakin Devils are in New Jersey and their games are on tv in queens/li over the Islander games.. ridiculous!!
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Sab says:
Allan Bester called…he wants his five-hole back!
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Another weak one. He’s not extending himself at all. Just going through the motions.
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Another bad one
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battfist says:
WD-40
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Geli says:
He hasn’t played a game in almost a year. Did anyone really expect him to be great? He’s rusty, understandably so. Let’s see how he looks after a few weeks of playing.
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Liked what I saw frankly. He was slow after 11 months away, but there were definite flashes of Ricky there, that last glove was a sight for sore eyes.
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shinkdew says:
Having only 3 shots in the first period couldn’t have helped him. Either way it doesn’t matter how many saves he made, the only thing that really matters is how he feels tomorrow.
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Alan says:
This PP is a joke!!!
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Hud says:
Hedman first NHL goal, had to be vs the Isles. Though 4-0, Isles look like the better team, if that makes any sense.
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Strummer's Army says:
Respect to Joel Riechlecz who in his first game back last night went after and sent a message to the Turtle named Robatille, who ran around like a jackass the last time he played against the Tigers.
Respect to the Tigers tonight for a great effort. The Isles need to earn some respect.
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Brother Rat says:
So great to see Ricky back. Would have been nice for him to get the win and shut them out, but baby steps are in order.
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Eastonhockey says:
I didn’t think we would see dipietro till next season or maybe never since people were reporting he couldn’t kneel down at church..n was limping at his wedding. Good to see although he isn’t needed this year with roloson.
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goislesgo105 says:
Glad to see DP playing again. It will be great to finally have him back. Really glad to hear that JJ,Matt Martin and the other “kids” are playing well too!! I don’t know what was worse tonight, the referee’s or the Isles power play. The ref’s were awful, disallowing TWO Isles goals and allowing a TB goal when Rolo clearly had the puck covered. Ref’s sucked, but so did the Isles power play. Need to get that going. I like the attitude the team has. They are starting to expect to win. GO ISLES!! The future looks bright. Congrats Victor Hedman on your first NHL goal! Caps 8, Flyers 2, WOW!! What’s up with the Flyers????
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Im glad he played but Im not really going to be happy til I hear how he feels tomorrow. If he feels great after playing 2 periods, then thats a good sign.
I dont care if he let in goals. Thats what guys do when they havent played for a while, and honestly thats why he is doing this in BPT instead of here. We arent going to see how Rick is really playing until he has done this over and over.
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#36 what..he played tonight he probably could come back to the nhl right now if needed
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Lord Al says:
DP realy should stay down in the AHL so he plays a good 10 games. That would be a real good run
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greg says:
Watch the highlights of the BP game, anybody else looking forward of Matt Martin and Jesse Joensuu emergence. Keep it up. Would be nice to get some fresh faces out of Bridgeport to crack the team next year or be NHL ready call ups.
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Jason says:
The Islanders are making me a little nervous. We’re fast approaching the mid-point of the season. They have to decide right now, are they a playoff team, or a lottery team? Being neither would be very frustrating.
It’s also a little disturbing that DiPietro’s first game back was far less than stellar. Can we trade him for Heatley or Gaborik?
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Hale says:
to post 40…cb correct me if i’m wrong but their is a certain time he can be down there for correct??? i thought it was two weeks…
to post 41…he hasn’t played in a year..the fact he was out there is encouraging..also soo you want us to be a lottery team??? i think if this team went from last in the league and missed the playoffs by 6 points or so would be cause for celebration -
Ricky says:
He is one injury away from early retirement.
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Dan says:
Its good to see him back and the Islanders taking this path. Last year, if I am correct, he just started up in the big league. I like how they are working it slower. Now if only we could get him back healthy, get a top 4 defenseman and find consistency.
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doc says:
Just watched Soundtigers TV and highlights of last nights game. DiPietro seemed to be moving well… not hesitant.
Team looked good in “highlights”
Dibo, Joenssu, Martin, Katic etc.
Of course everyone looks good in the “hightlights”… so it’s tough to tell.
DOC
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
dp needs to play a few more games. see how he feels.
Mike 
How’s attendance? Much more than a typical Sat game in BPort?