Rick DiPietro - the Injury Saga Continues for Islanders Fans

The first pick of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft has done it again. After sitting out the majority of the 2008-2009 NHL season due to post-arthroscopic surgical swelling in his right knee, Rick DiPietro's rehabilitation for the 2009-2010 season has already taken a turn for the worse. With an original timetable to begin his rehabilitation with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL sometime around Thanksgiving, DiPietro made a couple of starts with the Islanders' affiliate when we all of the sudden felt some tightness and discomfort in his leg this past Friday. Just today, Islanders General Manager Garth Snow released the following statement on Rick DiPietro's status "Ricky has been seen by the team doctors and most recently a specialist. To make sure we are taking the proper steps in his rehabilitation we will seek an additional opinion and should have a timeline by the end of the week."

In the midst of their 7-1 ousting by the Florida Panthers, the Islanders are in need of some good news. Unfortunately for them the injury bug has been haunting them again as it did last season. They've had injuries hit Trent Hunter, Doug Weight, Frans Neilsen, Andy Sutton, Sean Bergenheim, Kyle Okposo, Jack Hillen and Tim Jackman this season. The last thing that they need to hear right now is that their prized franchise goaltender is even further away than originally anticipated. Luckily for the Islanders, Garth Snow's signing of Dwayne Roloson has paid off and they're still in the playoff hunt with a long home stand throughout the rest of December. The Islanders will kick off a two game battle with the cross-town Rangers beginning tomorrow night at the Garden.