A year later or what seems like forever if you're Rick DiPietro, the Isles favorite son returned to the ice. The pregame program had an extended interview with Rick before the game. He discussed the mental aspect of being out for so long and how difficult it was to think that he may never be the same. It reminded me of the conversation I had with him in late November. I asked him if he had taken up any hobbies and he said "Does depression count?"

I could see he was serious. I turned off the recorder for a moment. I didn't repeat it at the time because ... well, I just didn't think that should come from me. The long months of rehab were obviously hard on him. So tonight he took his first step in recovering what he has lost.

My husband, Big Angry Man, tried to bet me that he would give up three goals on the first five shots. I tried to ignore him. I had to put the NHL summary sheet up on the computer so we could be sure, even though my husband has an excellent eye.

My Twitterverse friends said I should have taken the bet as DiPietro gave up one goal on the first THREE shots he faced. By the end of the first, he had only given up one goal on ten shots.

At the other end of the ice, Marty Turco had given up TWO on eight shots. The first goal was actually set up by Rick as he made a long pass to Trent Hunter, whose shot took a wild bounce and Josh Bailey was in the right place to snap it in. Rick, in his first game back, would get an assist just the way he did in his first NHL game played. Cosmic.

The second Islanders goal was scored by Kyle Okposo, just as the first period was expiring, and again from one knee. That is becoming his signature move.

The negative of the first period was that once again Robbie Schremp took a stick to the face and there was no call. Is this man invisible to anyone in a striped shirt? Is it the #13? He sat on the bench holding his jaw for a few moments, probably wondering once again how that could have been missed as a penalty.

Period two began and the Stars tied the game at two on their tenth shot at 4:18 by Erickson. Hillen had lost his helmet and Brendan Monroe was a nuisance to DiPietro. But then so was another Brendan as the puck hit Witt and landed right at DiPi's door and neither Rick nor Witt knew where it was.

Turco came too far out of his net trying to release the puck from his glove and fanned on the puck as he was trying to play it and Frans Nielsen took advantage of an open net.

The euphoria didn't last long as Morrow tied it at three at 8:11 of the 2nd and Brendan Witt's +/- now has to be in double digits.

That gave the Stars a burst of confidence and they pressed the Isles hard. Howie, back from vacation, called it a sloppy game. But sloppy or not, the Isles had to keep it together and try to get a win.

It seemed as if there were no officials on the ice at all as no penalties were call until almost 4 minutes into the third.

At 16:47 of the 2nd, the Stars made it 4 - 3 (on 23 shots) when Rick gave up a rebound that went through Andy Sutton's legs and passed Nate Thompson and was banged in by Richards. Rick knew he was beat as he watched it float by his left pad while he was still down in the crease. He was not happy. He looked up to the ceiling and sprayed water on his face to recover.

There was a flurry of activity in Turco's net with less than a minute left to go, but the Isles and the Stars left the ice with the Stars up by one. Certainly not an insurmountable lead.

The third began and at 17:43 the first penalty of the game as Andy Sutton is called for a cross check. Meanwhile, Doug Weight was doubled over on the bench from taking a stick to the face. No call on that though. So the Stars were on the power play for the first time in the game.

As good as Rick had been, it was obvious that his side to side motion is lacking.


The Officials finally remembered their whistles as Erickson was called for elbowing Okposo in the face at 15:55. They played 4 on 4 hockey before the Isles went on a power play. There was a dog pile in Turco's net, but no one could get to the puck to put it cleanly in his net.

There was a breakaway towards Rick and Streit layed down on the ice to save the goal and not take a penalty.

With 9:47 left in the 3rd, Robbie Schremp was hit in the face YET AGAIN, but at least this time there was a whistle. The Stars attempt to get another islander into an altercation so there would be corresponding penalties was useless. No one took the bait.

Hey Robbie HOW ABOUT WEARING A VISOR NOW??? HOW ABOUT IT.

The Power Play did nothing to improve the Islanders chances of winning the game as none of the Islanders could tee up the puck to get into the net.

With six minutes left of the third it looked as if the Islanders were once again tired in the third. This isn't going to do well for tomorrow's game against the Coyote's who are a very fast team.

With 2:53 left, time was not the Islanders friend. They couldn't keep the puck in the Star's zone.

At 1:10 left, Di Pi headed to the bench for the extra skater. Tavares' first shot was blocked and his second hit the top post. Sutton hit Tavares with the puck. Gervais kept it in the zone, put it out in front, but no one was home. Turco made a save on Bailey who had the best opportunity and with 6.3 seconds left Turco covered the puck for a whistle

In the 6 seconds that were left, the Isles threw everything they could at the net, but Turco came through. Rick would go to the dressing room with his first loss of the season and JT would go disgusted with the sound of that puck hitting the post instead of going in.

It wasn't the worst game. But it could have been better, and everyone knew it. But that's not a reflection on DiPietro. He made 24 saves on 28 shots. For a first dip in the pool, he should be content.

They play Phoenix on Saturday. No time to be disappointed over this one. Too much else to think about.

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