Rick DiPietro took off his skates after the Islanders practiced yesterday and watched Ryan Miller put in yet another stellar Olympic performance.
With Team USA’s 2-0 victory over Switzerland, the Americans are just one win away from Sunday’s gold-medal game.
It’s a far cry from how DiPietro and his teammates did four years ago in Italy, when they went 1-4-1 under Peter Laviolette.
“Obviously, I’d rather be watching from Vancouver, but I hope they win . . . and continue to play well,” said DiPietro, who spoke during the match’s first period. “It’s tough. This is something I was looking forward to from the time I got off the plane from Torino, so you watch and wish you were there playing in it.”
Especially with the way the Americans have played this time around.
DiPietro started four games in Torino in 2006 during the Americans’ disappointing eighth-place finish, which ended with a 4-3 loss to Finland in the quarterfinals — and with veteran Mike Modano criticizing the way Team USA was run.
DiPietro went 1-3 with a 2.28 goals-against average in 2006 as Team USA lost several close matches.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” said DiPietro, whose career largely has been derailed by injuries since then. “I’m disappointed in the fact we weren’t able to win that quarterfinal game and move on . . . but I enjoyed every minute.”
And he hopes to be able to get another chance down the road.
“It didn’t work out, but I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a chance to do it in Russia,” DiPietro said. “All I can control is how I play and staying healthy.”
The Islanders skated yesterday for the first time since the Olympic break. Injured players Josh Bailey, Jack Hillen and Tim Jackman were all on the ice. Mark Streit and coach Scott Gordon are in Vancouver.