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DiPietro out as Islanders face Senators

Dec 27, 2007 - 1:11 PM NY Islanders (18-15-2) at Ottawa (24-8-4) 7:30 pm EST

OTTAWA (Ticker) - If the New York Islanders want to remain competitive, their offense must come alive. Especially with starting goaltender Rick DiPietro sidelined.

Mike Comrie tries to build off an impressive effort as the Islanders visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

Comrie scored a pair of goals - including the game-winner with just 10 seconds left in overtime - as New York edged the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, on Wednesday. While it was the team's third consecutive win, the Islanders got some bad news in the first period when DiPietro left the contest with an undisclosed knee injury.

Even though backup Wade Dubielewicz had a strong outing Wednesday, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced, the Islanders can not afford to lose DiPietro, who has kept his club in a lot of games this season.

DiPietro has a 16-13-2 record with a 2.44 goals-against average, despite playing behind an offense that has scored an NHL-low 83 goals this season. The netminder will be evaluated Thursday, but isn't expected to play against Ottawa.

The Senators do not share New york's offensive woes, tallying an Eastern Conference-best 120 goals.

Dany Heatley leads the club with 22 goals and an NHL-best plus-32 rating, while captain Daniel Alfredsson has 20 tallies and a team-leading 46 points.