Oct 16, 2008 - 6:04 AM
0 shoutsNy Islanders (1-2-0) at Tampa Bay (0-2-1) 7:00 pm. EDT
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders need star goaltender Rick DiPietro to return as soon as possible.
In the meantime, a struggling Joey MacDonald will likely make a fourth straight start in place of DiPietro on Thursday when the Islanders host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The franchise goaltender who signed a record 15-year, $67.5 million contract in 2006, DiPietro has yet to play this season after having knee and hip surgeries in the offseason. Drafted first overall in the 2000 draft, the netminder posted a 2.82 goals-against average last season.
On Monday, MacDonald allowed all seven goals in a 7-1 loss to Buffalo. First-year coach Scott Gordon said he didn't consider pulling MacDonald and that there are more issues with the team than just goaltending.
"I think sometimes coaches let the team off the hook when they look for an answer by pulling their goalie," Gordon said. "I hope our team understands that you can't just point the finger at the goaltender here."
Meanwhile, the Lightning are reeling after blowing a three-goal lead in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Tampa Bay was outshot, 43-16, from the middle of the first period on - and has allowed 126 shots on goal in three games.
As a result, the Lightning signed veteran defenseman Marek Malik to a one-year, $1.2 million deal to shore up their blueline.
From the Bleachers
-
NEW YORK: 4
TAMPA BAY: 3
Final - OT
Oct 16 10:09 PM -
NEW YORK: 4
TAMPA BAY: 3
End of OT
Oct 16 10:08 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 4
TAMPA BAY 3
OT: NYI - TRENT HUNTER 4 (FRANS NIELSEN) 0:51
Oct 16 10:08 PM -
NEW YORK: 3
TAMPA BAY: 3
End of Regulation
Oct 16 10:02 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 3
TAMPA BAY 3
3RD PRD: TAM - RYAN MALONE 1 (JUSSI JOKINEN, JANNE NISKALA) 14:57
Oct 16 9:54 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 3
TAMPA BAY 2
3RD PRD: NYI - (SH) TRENT HUNTER 3 (JEFF TAMBELLINI, MIKE COMRIE)
13:51
Oct 16 9:53 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 2
TAMPA BAY 2
3RD PRD: TAM - VACLAV PROSPAL 1 (MARTIN ST. LOUIS, ANDREJ MESZAROS)
12:02
Oct 16 9:52 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 2
TAMPA BAY 1
3RD PRD: TAM - VINCENT LECAVALIER 2 (VACLAV PROSPAL, ANDREJ MESZAROS)
3:43
Oct 16 9:40 PM -
NEW YORK: 2
TAMPA BAY: 0
End of 2nd
Oct 16 9:07 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 2
TAMPA BAY 0
2ND PRD: NYI - DOUG WEIGHT 2 (BILL GUERIN, FRANS NIELSEN) 13:54
Oct 16 8:57 PM -
NEW YORK: 1
TAMPA BAY: 0
End of 1st
Oct 16 8:14 PM -
NHL
NY ISLANDERS 1
TAMPA BAY 0
1ST PRD: NYI - MIKE COMRIE 2 (KYLE OKPOSO, BRUNO GERVAIS) 2:47
Oct 16 7:47 PM
