The New York Islanders have announced that goalie Rick DiPietro will make his season debut tonight when they take on the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
DiPietro, 31, last appeared in an NHL contest 419 days ago -- Dec. 3, 2011 -- before missing extensive time with a groin injury.
The oft-injured netminder hasn’t been completely inactive since then, mind you.
He spent some time with SC Riessersee of the German second division during the lockout (where he denied reports he re-injured his groin) and came back to Isles camp healthy, ready to get his career back on track...again.
DiPietro’s a Massachusetts native, so no huge surprise the Isles are giving him the start in Boston. The decision was also likely made easier by the fact Evgeni Nabokov’s played three games in five nights, and faced 43 shots against Toronto.
DiPietro last faced the Bruins on Nov. 19, 2011 -- a 6-0 loss at Nassau in which he was hooked after allowing three goals on 13 shots in the first period.
