Thank goodness it’s the very last day of 2008 – it’s not been all bad mind you, I just want to move past all these injuries.

In what is now a daily trend, the Islanders have announced several injuries and players recalled from Bridgeport to serve as replacement for said players. Here is what we know, thanks to Islanders Point Blank:

Trevor Smith has been recalled to replace Mike Sillinger who finds himself back in a familiar place – Injured Reserve with a hip injury. No word if this is an injury to his surgically repaired hip or to his “good hip”. It’s a shame too, because he has been pretty good for the Islanders in between missing time with that groin strain and all.

Trent Hunter is reportedly sore, nothing major after that scary hit at the Garden on Monday. If Hunts cannot go – Botta says to expect Sim to take his place.

Sean Bergenheim will likely dress for Mitch Fritz, Bergy is the better choice providing he can find a way to remain out of the sin bin.

The question at this point is why is Yann Danis recalled once again so soon after he was sent back down? Will he serve as backup for a returning DiPietro or will he backup MacDonald. The tricky part about this situation is how Joey Mac took a shot up high off the neck during yesterday’s practice. This is something to watch for sure. The last time I checked everyone thought that DiPietro would be today’s starting goalie – who knows at this point. I know I don’t profess to know or understand anything anymore.

No live blog again today, my apologies – if the mood strikes me I may do something from my phone while in my seats. Follow along with the live tracker at the bottom of the post for all those stuck at work!

Enjoy the game!

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All distractions aside, the Islanders had a pretty good weekend. A win on Friday night against Toronto and a come from behind effort on Saturday in Buffalo that would force overtime and a shootout that ended in a loss. I doubt anyone is asking what kind of distractions – but in case you aren’t following, I am talking about the status of Rick DiPietro. Joey MacDonald is your starter tonight, just to give you a hint.

This is turning into quite the soap opera honestly, think “How the Rick turns” if you will. First, without much warning DiPietro was your starting netminder on Friday. Everyone around the club thought that he should have been given a stint in Bridgeport ala Sillinger – but alas, he did not go that route. DP played, got the win and only gave up one goal. We would later find out that both DiPietro and Sillinger would not make the trip to Buffalo as a precaution, but Ricky would be good to go on Monday. Between yesterday and today I have heard it all – Yes, No, Maybe. Turns out that even the media was confused, as DiPietro practiced with the team, took the bulk of shots and left the ice first – all typical of your starting goalie. WRONG. Turns out it was just a ploy to keep everyone guessing what is going on, even Bridgeport netminder Yann Danis – who by now can do the Bridgeport – Long Island drive with his eyes closed.

In other news, veteran forward Doug Weight is back in the lineup after nursing his sore groin. Weight is only two points away from his 1,000th NHL point, it could very well happen tonight and increase his point total this season, as well as his trade value. Seems Weight’s name is already popping up in the rumor mill, it first started in the back channels – but as BD said this morning it has reached the beat writers as well.

There is one certainty tonight, the Islanders always show up for the Rangers – at least we can expect some spirited hockey tonight. The Rangers are an up and down team despite their record, but they are also coming off a tough loss to the Devils on Saturday – so they will come out just as pumped tonight. Time will tell which teams comes out on top.

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So those of you watching the game in Buffalo may have overheard Howie and Billy speak about DiPietro’s groin tweak. It was a surprise to just about everyone, except one sharp eyed blogger – me.

It’s true that Danis could only be recalled if it was an emergency. It is also true that the injury could be a ruse, at least that is the hope.

Something I noticed from the Blog Box last night, during DP’s and Campoli’s jumping chest bump – high five, DP did look like he landed awkward. I saw him skate off fine and walk down the runway, but that is where things got strange. If he was injured, I could see this being a key juncture and something I had hoped they would not do in his fragile state.

Discuss.

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Right after the Islanders completed all the post game interviews last night following their 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs, they began their shuffle off to Buffalo. Only it was more then just moving their equipment.

See, there are several key players who did not make the trip with the rest of the team. Goaltender Rick DiPietro was left behind, despite his win – as was veteran forward Mike Sillinger. The club was erring on the side of caution with both players and felt it would do more harm then good should they play in back-to-back games.

Yann Danis will replace DiPietro and Jeremy Colliton will replace Andy Hilbert who fractured a foot blocking a shot last night. Both DP and Sillinger are projected to be back in the lineup for Monday nights game against the Rangers at MSG, but Hilbert is day to day – but it has been speculated that he could be out anywhere from 2-4 weeks. Another difference, Jon Sim in for Mike Sillinger – no Mitch Fritz.

Tonight, they face a team in the Sabres who are coming off a loss to the Capitals last night and have also been in a bit of a slump themselves. If they have the same chemistry they did last night – they shouldn’t have any problem and could potentially string together a decent batch of games to close out December.

Not really sure about Doug Weight, but I suspect that he is another scratch tonight.

Enjoy the game!

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Aside from the Toronto Maple Leafs coming to Long Island again tonight, the Islanders also have some returning players. Get this, the players are returning from one of the darnedest things – INJURY.

According to Arthur Staple and Mike Fornabaio the Islanders will be graced with the presence of Mike Sillinger whom is returning from a sore groin, and also Bruno Gervais who had an unspecified leg injury. Both players returning to the Islanders lineup replace forward Ben Walter and defenseman Joe Callahan who were both returned to Bridgeport.

A big asterisk on all of the injuries and returns – the status of goaltender Rick DiPietro. Arthur Staple had this interesting quote in Greg Logan’s blog today following the morning skate

As for the goaltender… Scott Gordon didn’t seem like he was trying to be coy. “We have to check with the trainer, the doctor (Elliot Pellman) first,” Gordon said. “We don’t have a lot of practice time, so this is what we’re working with.”

DiPietro was the first goaltender off the ice from the skate, and he took a majority of the shots in one net while Yann Danis mainly worked the other. These are things that make you go hmmm, but it would seem to be downright foolish to toss DiPietro into a game after two months off with two straight days off preceding it.

So, if DiPietro does not make a surprise return tonight against Toronto, should he be cleared to play he may appear in the crease tomorrow night against the Buffalo Sabres. This is definately the story to watch for sure.

DiPietro Starting!

Got to the game early tonight and I see DiPietro is dressed in the warmup skate currently taking shots. One could guess he is your starting netminder. Happy Holidays from your New York Islanders!

Regarding Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta and my live blog – two things happened. First, the wireless internet that the team provides us with went down and did not come back up until the third period. Second, my laptop drive died and I was unable to even use my computer. I ordered a new drive and it should be here soon, the tricky part is waiting for the recovery discs from the manufacturer as the laptop drive had a backup on a different partition – not helpful when the drive dies. Coincidentally, my father got me a mini-laptop for Christmas but I don’t think I will live blog tonight because I have not sat in my seats in quite a few weeks now.

As the games pass here there is nothing really to play for except for some dignity and pride, the Islanders are clearly in a free fall to the bottom of the standings and the top of the draft order come June. Obviously, nobody wants to see them lose for more then ten straight games – particularly the players themselves. It’s a tough situation, but playing against teams like Toronto and Atlanta who are both in dire straights themselves don’t make things any easier. The Islanders are struggling just the same, yet teams who are struggling apear as if they are filled with all star players and walk all over the team. It is times like this that make me beleive that the talent level of the Islanders is way below league average. I don’t know one coach who can take a group of players like this and make them a thoroughbred. However, in the same breath the team has enough talent to steal a few games when they stick to the system like they did earlier in the season. Call it growing pains during a rebuild, but when this team is healthy (and I don’t put much weight into that statement because with their luck they never will be) – they can be more competitive. This all begins with a return of a 100% healthy Rick DiPietro, something a lot of people have been waiting for.

I still love hockey and I still love and support the team, hopefully they don’t completely disappoint tonight. When they don’t, it is certainly easier to muster up something interesting to read.

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Finally got an internet connection, I am always the only one with problems.

Doug was nice enough to tell me Tambellini is in – substituted for Jon Sim, while Weight is still out with a sore groin, Thompson is out with his leg injury.

Still getting set up here and I will get the live tracker going as soon as possible.

First Period

7:09pm And we are off.
7:14pm Some back and forth stuff early, no real chances either way and only one shot on goal a piece. Thrashers just iced the puck – Comeau won the race beating our own Callahan….
7:18pm Hey, the ice girls are out for the first time tonight – they have on some sexy Christmas outfits. Nice

Internet is down, they are trying to hey it back up for us. Posting this from my phone.

8:23pm I’m having computer issues, Thrashers are up 2-0. Islanders have had a few good chances, but only managed to hit two posts.

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