Rick DiPietro will make his 2nd appearance/start of the season tonight, when the Isles host Carolina. It will be his first game action in 17 days, and his first appearance at home this season. Evegeni Nabokov had started the last seven Isles games, going 2-4-1.
DiPietro started seven games last season, with all but the last one coming at the Coliseum. His last appearance at the Coliseum was on Thanksgiving Eve (11-23), 2011 against Philadelphia. After allowing a goal just 18 seconds in, the Isles rallied to give Rick a 3-1 lead after one period, but he couldn't hold it--Daniel Briere's overtime tally gave the Flyers a 4-3 win.
This will be DiPietro's 20th career appearance against Carolina. After splitting the first 10 (5-5-0), DiPietro is 0-7-1 in his last 9 appearances (one no-decision) against the Canes.
DiPietro comes in with the "pressure" of keeping the Isles at/above all-time ,500 (1351-1351-433). Twice last season the Isles feel one game below all-time .500, something they hadn't done since 1978. (Of course, the NHL's accounting has a lot to do with this... they could be as many as 86 games under .500 (1351-1437-357) if you counted all losses (regulation, overtime, shootout) as defeats.)
DiPietro started seven games last season, with all but the last one coming at the Coliseum. His last appearance at the Coliseum was on Thanksgiving Eve (11-23), 2011 against Philadelphia. After allowing a goal just 18 seconds in, the Isles rallied to give Rick a 3-1 lead after one period, but he couldn't hold it--Daniel Briere's overtime tally gave the Flyers a 4-3 win.
This will be DiPietro's 20th career appearance against Carolina. After splitting the first 10 (5-5-0), DiPietro is 0-7-1 in his last 9 appearances (one no-decision) against the Canes.
DiPietro comes in with the "pressure" of keeping the Isles at/above all-time ,500 (1351-1351-433). Twice last season the Isles feel one game below all-time .500, something they hadn't done since 1978. (Of course, the NHL's accounting has a lot to do with this... they could be as many as 86 games under .500 (1351-1437-357) if you counted all losses (regulation, overtime, shootout) as defeats.)
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick
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