National Enquirer's Jaw-Dropping Whitney Houston Cover
WATCH: Obama Sings AGAIN
Rick DiPietro will play his first NHL game in more than a year on Friday when the New York Islanders play in Dallas.The 28-year-old DiPietro's last game in the NHL was on Jan. 2, 2009, a 5-2 loss in Phoenix. It was only his fifth game of the 2008-09 season before he was shut down because of pain in his left knee. The former NHL all-star and 2006 U.S. Olympian has undergone two procedures on the meniscus in his left knee in the last two years. DiPietro also had hip surgeries in the offseasons of 2007 and 2008.
DiPietro gets the start Friday despite the continued stellar play of No. 1 goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who is 16-7-6 and was the team's best player in a 3-2 win on Colorado on Wednesday.
Still, after four conditioning starts in the American Hockey League, DiPietro has to test himself in the NHL and the Islanders must see how his health holds up. The team is carrying three goalies: DiPietro, Roloson and Biron. If DiPietro proves some measure of durability, Biron could be dealt between now and the March 3 trade deadline.
Islanders coach Scott Gordon has made a point all week of keeping expectations at a modest level for DiPietro.
"Where he's at right now, I don't think he's going to be there a month from now," said Gordon. "To be able to play at an NHL pace and fight traffic, his timing is going to be a little off. But he's been functional and that's the important part."
DiPietro and the Islanders will face a Dallas team without Mike Ribeiro, its fourth-leading scorer. The Stars center underwent a tracheotomy on Wednesday night after he was accidentally slashed in the throat by Rangers forward Chris Higgins. Ribeiro is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Rick Santorum Compares Mitt Romney To Michael Dukakis
Wave Of Attacks Kills At Least 50, Injures More Than 200 In Iraq
U.S., North Korea Reopen Nuclear Talks
Newt Gingrich Calls Obama An 'Extremist' Who Supported 'Infanticide'
Consumer Privacy 'Bill of Rights' Seeks To Give Web Users More Control Over Their Data
Even More Money Meant For Struggling Homeowners Used To Close Deficits
Arizona GOP Leader: Let Kids Work For $4.65 An Hour
Jury Hands Down Guilty Verdict In College Lacrosse Murder
Knicks Rout Hawks Before Showdown In Miami
Popular Porn Site Users' Login Info Leaked
POLL: Californians Have No Idea Who To Vote For In The GOP Primary
Members Of Congress Receive Threats
Chris Christie's High Profile Absence From Mitt Romney Campaign Keeps Speculation Alive
Federal Judge Says State Can't Force Pharmacies To Sell Plan B
Occupy Plans National Convention
8-Year-Old Student Shot At Washington Elementary School
Mitt Romney Quotes George Costanza Of 'Seinfeld'
Meghan McCain Warns Against Santorum 'Bloodbath'
Romney's Hypocritical Attack On Santorum
WATCH: Santorum Says Kids Get 'Weird Socialization' From Public Schools
WATCH: Oil Man's Son Fights Pipeline And 'Decline Of A Civilization'
Separate But Equal? Policy Brief Aims To Ensure Charter Schools Aren't.
Obama Signs Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Rand Paul Responds To Running Mate Uproar
WATCH: The Obama Flip-Flop Mashup
