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Islanders hope to have DiPietro, pick up rare win vs. Senators

Mar 15, 2007 - 3:32 PM NY Islanders (34-25-10) at Ottawa (40-23-7) 7:30 pm EDT

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders hope to have their franchise player against a tough opponent.

Rick DiPietro hopes to make his 19th straight start when the Islanders visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

DiPietro, who signed a 15-year contract in September, was injured in the first period of Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Montreal.

The star goaltender collided with Montreal's Steve Begin while attempting to get to a loose puck just inside his own blue line. Begin's skate appeared to hit the head of DiPietro, who left the game and did not return.

DiPietro is a game-time decision for Thursday's contest, but Wade Dubielewicz was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League ad an emergency backup. If DiPietro cannot go, Mike Dunham will make his first start since February 1.

New York is tied with Carolina (35-28-8) for the last two postseason spots in the Eastern Conference. The two teams are only one point ahead of ninth-place Toronto (34-27-9).

New York hopes to have DiPietro against the Senators, who have won their last six games against the Islanders by an overall margin of 29-6. The Islanders are 3-16-0 with five ties in their last 24 regular-season trips to Ottawa.

On Tuesday, Ottawa secured a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros scored on a deflection off Marek Malik's stick midway through the third period, snapping a tie.