DiPietro manquera la première ronde...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Goaltender Rick DiPietro, recovering from two concussions, did not travel with the New York Islanders to Buffalo on Wednesday and will miss the playoff opener against the Sabres.

Islanders coach Ted Nolan said backup Wade Dubielewicz will start Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against top-seeded Buffalo on Thursday.

Nolan said DiPietro is listed day to day and will be monitored by the team's medical staff. He sustained two concussions 12 days apart last month. DiPietro skated on his own Tuesday, but hasn't practised with the team since a loss to the New York Rangers on March 25. He missed the final seven games of the regular season.

With Game 2 Saturday, Nolan said it's unlikely DiPietro will travel to Buffalo. Dubielewicz has emerged as a surprise star for New York. He won his final four starts, including a 3-2 shootout win over New Jersey on Sunday, in helping the Islanders sneak into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203767&hubname=nhl
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Les chances des Islanders de New York seront basé sur le coeur et la chance du débutant maintenant....

Associated Press

4/13/2007 4:35:39 PM

AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) - New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro is closer to making a return after practising Friday for the first time since suffering his second concussion three weeks ago.

Coach Ted Nolan said DiPietro looked sharp, but he'll wait until the morning skate Saturday before determining whether the goalie will play in Game 2 of the Islanders' first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at Buffalo.

Except for feeling a little rusty, DiPietro said he felt fine after practice.

''I think tomorrow morning will be a good indicator and we'll go from there,'' he said.

Nolan expressed hope that DiPietro's potential return would provide a boost following a 4-1 series-opening loss to the Sabres on Thursday.





''Any time you get your most valuable player back, a guy who led you all season, it's a big lift for us for sure,'' Nolan said.

DiPietro went 32-19-9 with five shutouts this season, his first since signing a 15-year contract.

''It's tough to put into words how excited I am to be back and be a part of this. . . . If you're a competitor, you want to play and I realize how important these games are,'' DiPietro said.

DiPietro has been out since March 25, when he sustained his second concussion in a span of 12 days. He missed the final seven games of the regular season, but New York rallied to win its final four games behind third-stringer Wade Dubielewicz and clinch the East's eighth and final playoff berth.

Dubielewicz stopped 31 shots in making his NHL playoff debut Thursday. DiPietro travelled to Buffalo in time to watch the game after he was cleared by team doctors in Long Island earlier in the day.

The best-of-seven series shifts to Long Island for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday.

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Bonne nouvelle!!!