Islanders G DiPietro has MRI

Mar 19, 2008 - 4:42 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Things got even worse for the New York Islanders on Tuesday, when the club revealed Rick DiPietro would be sidelined with a hip injury.

The franchise goaltender, who tweaked his hip during All-Star Weekend in January, underwent an MRI Tuesday afternoon.

While New York will receive the results Wednesday, TSN of Canada is reporting that the netminder has a right hip problem that is going to require surgery. Citing undisclosed sources, the web site said the surgery could be performed as early as Wednesday.

DiPietro, 27, has posted a 26-28-7 record with three shutouts and a 2.82 goals-against average in 63 games this season. He is four victories shy of a third consecutive 30-win campaign.

The Islanders (32-35-7) suffered their sixth consecutive loss with a 3-1 setback to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. New York is 11 points behind Philadelphia (36-28-10) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.