Islanders' Rick DiPietro has visions of facing Rangers

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After seeing plenty of pucks Monday in practice, Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro didn't rule out playing tonight against the Rangers at the Coliseum despite taking Sidney's Crosby's stick in his right eye Saturday against Pittsburgh.

"I felt good. I'm just trying to do all the right things to get back as soon as possible," DiPietro said. "It was scary, it's not something that you ever think is going to happen.

"The stick actually did catch me in the eyeball, but I guess I was fortunate that I blinked upwards and took it off the white part of the eye rather than the pupil. I feel really fortunate that it's not serious. I was trying to participate as fully as I could today and get a gauge where I am, and we'll see how it responds (this) morning."

DiPietro acknowledged he'll discuss with the equipment staff a slight alteration to his mask to prevent a repeat of the incident, which occurred when Isles defenseman Radek Martinek lifted Crosby's stick with his own, sending Crosby's blade into an opening in the goalie's mask. DiPietro admitted he experienced slight vision problems Saturday night, before adding, "It's encouraging that it's continued to get better the last day and a half."

DiPietro, who missed seven games and the Isles' playoff opener last spring after suffering two concussions in 12 days, insisted he had not undergone any concussion tests over the weekend. "It didn't hit me in the head, it hit me straight in the eye," said DiPietro, who signed a 15-year contract before last season.

 

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DiPietro starting



Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro said everything felt good in the morning skate today at the Coliseum before the second game of the year against the Rangers, and that was all coach Ted Nolan needed to hear. ?He looks ready to go to me,? Nolan said, ?so, he?ll go tonight.?

DiPietro?s status was in doubt after a stick to the right eye from Pittsburgh?s Sidney Crosby on Saturday night, but the blurred vision he experienced in the immediate aftermath of that incident has cleared up. So, it came as no surprise that DiPietro was primed for what should be a battle of the goaltenders against the Rangers? Henrik Lundqvist, who pitched a shutout against Philadelphia last night at Madison Square Garden.

?The only consideration was for the safety and well-being of Ricky,? Nolan said. ?Anytime you go near the eye, that?s a pretty serious thing. We?ll count our lucky stars it wasn?t more serious than it was. Whether it was the Rangers or anybody else, Ricky?s health is more important than anything.?

Although DiPietro said he might consider an equipment change to protect against another stick getting under his mask the way Crosby?s did, a face shield or closer bars on the cage might be impractical for a goaltender. Defenseman Bryan Berard, who lost most of the vision in his right eye because of a blow from a stick, expressed some skepticism about potential remedies.

?He was talking about it, but a visor definitely distorts your vision a little bit,? Berard said. ?Then, with the fog and the scratches, I think it would be a tough thing to [put a visor] in his eyeholes. If you squeeze the bars, they?re in your line of vision, too.?

The best thing might just be for the Islanders to keep their fingers crossed that it doesn?t happen again. After all, DiPietro said it was the first time in all his years playing hockey that a stickblade ever got inside his mask.

?I think the odds of that happening again,? Berard said, ?are a tough possibility.?

GAME NOTES: Forward Tim Jackman was called up from Bridgeport to replace Aaron Johnson, who is out six weeks with a sprained right knee. Jackman will be at right wing with fourth-line center Ben Walter and left wing Chris Simon. Jackman also skated on Walter?s line with the Sound Tigers?Berard skated with the rest of the team today for the first time since going on the injured list with a pulled hamstring, and forward Sean Bergenheim (shoulder, finger) also put in a good workout. Both players are shooting for a return against the Devils Saturday, but Nolan said he might exercise some caution with Bergenheim because there?s no point in risking further injury to a young player so early in the season.