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Around SBN: Dog Football! Which Breeds Are Best Suited For The Gridiron?

Pick Rick DiPietro's next start

So Rick DiPietro is going on this three-game road trip, and those closest to the tea leaves of this tight-lipped club predict he will get a start.

It would be very Islanders-like to sort of sneak him in a start in a Western time zone here, under the cover of as much obscurity as possible (i.e. Phoenix). But you make the call:

Do you start him Wednesday against Colorado, fifth overall in the league (by points) but firing just 26 shots per game? Or Friday in Dallas -- the worst team of the bunch at 16th overall, but throwing 32.3 shots per game at opposing goaltenders? Or in the anonymity of Phoenix Saturday, his last NHL opponent one year ago, but probably the best team on the trip: tied with Colorado for fifth overall and firing nearly 30 (29.9) shots per game?

For what it's worth, the Avalanche haven't played since Saturday; the Stars will have played the same night as the Isles-Avs tilt (Wednesday) at Madison Square Garden, and the Coyotes will have played two nights earlier in Vancouver.

Vote in the poll and, if you like, show your work and your goalie rotation (Biron?) in comments.

Poll
Which game will be Rick DiPietro's next start?
Wed. in Colorado - Just do it right quick.
55 votes
Fri. in Dallas - Give him the 'weakest' opponent.
118 votes
Sat. in Phoenix - Per team wishes that as few people report it as possible.
60 votes
I'm really not good at making decisions. Can I just sit and read? Some tea would be lovely.
15 votes
Later - Cross-country flights are bad on the joints.
18 votes

266 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 9 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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i chose right away, because i want to wear the jersey again, and because i wont be avail to watch the other games later in the week… (super selfish i know :-)

why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?

by bob l on Jan 5, 2010 2:42 PM EST reply actions  

Selfish motives are always good for polls.

I don’t know if I’m more excited about seeing how he does, or seeing how Gordon and company handle the aftermath and three-headed deal.

Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.

by Dominik on Jan 5, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions  

I'd say friday,

but I don’t know if that would nessecarily be the weakest opponent. Modono is still scary good, even if he can take credit for some cave drawings in France.
(I know becase I helped him pick out colors.)

SHOOOOOOOT!!!! Anon

by burpchelischili on Jan 5, 2010 3:34 PM EST reply actions  

saturday

I think we will see Rollie Rollie DiPi. Biron is a spare part and was only intended as a spare part and an insurance policy. I think the team will wait to see how DiPi handles the backup role healthwise then if he is doing well they will cross their fingers hoping for an olympic injury to a starting goalie to squeeze a good deal out of some very needy team.

I think they will have DiPi on the backup circuit for a few weeks then make it 50-50 untill there is a bad Rollie start backed by a strong DiPi where Rick will then take the top spot back. Given the contracts and the age situation you have to give Rick every chance to take back that starting job once he is physically able… can’t worry about hurting a 40 year old goalies feelings when he has one year left in his deal/career.(although i do appreciate the job Rollie has done and the way he has competed)

I don’t feel like there will be any three headed monster situation becuase its clear cut who has a future with this organization and its clearly more important to give DiPi NHL time to head into next season with a solid base than it is to keep happy a well known underachiever on a One-Year deal. I hate to hope for an injury at the olympics but with Birons lackluster play thats the only way we get anything more than a 5th rounder for him. Maybe king Henrik pulls a hammy and we can send Biron over there to sabotage them and bring us back a 2nd-3rd rounder??

by Big Swoopty on Jan 5, 2010 5:12 PM EST reply actions  

Well reasoned prediction on how rest of season unfolds. I wasn’t thinking this way myself- but your reasons make a lot of sense. The three headed dragon never lived!

by since70too on Jan 5, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions  

I’m pretty close to this line of thinking (not worried about Rolli’s feelings — he knew the deal when he signed, but DP will still have to “earn it” this year at least).

But even if DP starts well without soreness I figured Biron would get at least another start somewhere, and earlier is better than later. Right now he should be motivated by playing time not here but elsewhere, if not this year then for next. Of course, maybe Gordon doesn’t even want to bother. Should be fascinating how he manages this.

Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.

by Dominik on Jan 5, 2010 6:08 PM EST up reply actions  

I’m going to the game on Friday in Dallas. If DP is in he BETTER NOT SUCK! Otherwise my Stars friends will never let me hear the end of it. I already have one passionate fan talking smack to me about this as a possibility. If Rick plays like he has been off for over a year she will never let me hear the end of it.

Plus I will be rocking the new Okposo 3rd jersey. I am betting that he scores.

Would it be wrong to roll out the RED carpet for Kirill Petrov's arrival to the New York Islanders?

by metalcoconut on Jan 6, 2010 12:36 PM EST reply actions  

I’m going to the game on Friday in Dallas.

Sorry you’re in texas, but I am glad that you get to see the team roll in.

SHOOOOOOOT!!!! Anon

by burpchelischili on Jan 7, 2010 4:39 AM EST up reply actions  

Sometimes I wonder about living here as well but since I am in Austin it is ok. If I lived in Dallas…I don’t want to think about that.

I am starting to believe that the guy that hit Brendan Witt with the SUV was Swiss.

by metalcoconut on Jan 7, 2010 6:36 PM EST up reply actions  

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Isles Reading

Atlantic Standings

GP W L OTL PT
New York Rangers 55 37 13 5 79
Philadelphia 56 31 18 7 69
Pittsburgh 56 32 19 5 69
New Jersey 56 32 20 4 68
New York Islanders 56 24 24 8 56

(updated 2.15.2012 at 8:59 AM EST)

New York Islanders Roster

# Pos. DOB W H
Josh Bailey 12 LW 10/2/1989 190 6-1
Rick DiPietro 39 G 9/19/1981 190 6-1
Mark Eaton 4 D 5/6/1977 215 6-1
Michael Grabner 40 RW 10/5/1987 185 6-0
Travis Hamonic 3 D 8/16/1990 203 6-2
Milan Jurcina 27 D 6/7/1983 253 6-4
Andrew MacDonald 47 D 9/7/1986 196 6-1
Matt Martin 17 LW 3/8/1989 210 6-3
Al Montoya 35 G 2/13/1985 203 6-2
Mike Mottau 10 D 3/19/1978 190 6-0
Matt Moulson 26 LW 11/1/1983 205 6-1
Evgeni Nabokov 20 G 7/25/1975 200 6-0
Aaron Ness 55 D 5/18/1990 170 5-10
Nino Niederreiter 25 RW 9/8/1992 205 6-2
Frans Nielsen 51 C 4/24/1984 184 6-0
Kyle Okposo 21 RW 4/16/1988 205 6-0
Jay Pandolfo 29 LW 12/27/1974 190 6-1
P.A. Parenteau 15 LW 3/24/1983 193 6-0
Marty Reasoner 16 C 2/26/1977 205 6-1
Dylan Reese 42 D 8/29/1984 201 6-1
Brian Rolston 11 LW 2/21/1973 215 6-2
Steve Staios 24 D 7/28/1973 200 6-1
Mark Streit 2 D 12/11/1977 197 6-0
John Tavares 91 C 9/20/1990 202 6-0
Tim Wallace 36 RW 8/6/1984 207 6-1
Ty Wishart 6 D 5/19/1988 222 6-4
Calvin de Haan 44 D 5/9/1991 187 6-1

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