Scott Gordon gave the Islanders off yesterday, so the only players skating at Iceworks in Syosset were those who are injured.
Rick DiPietro wasn’t among them. He is still recovering from his most recent knee surgery last month, the second one he’s had in less than a year. After coming back from the first only to injure himself again in just his third game back, the team’s franchise goalie is frustrated, but upbeat. And he is aware of what his reputation has become: the guy with the long contract who can’t seem to stay healthy.
“It kills me,” DiPietro told The Post yesterday after getting treatment before the Isles return to action against Pittsburgh tonight at Nassau Coliseum having won five of their last six. “Everyone who knows me knows I live for this team and this game is my life. I’m doing everything I can to get better and help this team.”
He doesn’t know when that will involve getting back on the ice, but he walked around nimbly yesterday. Still, after the number of injuries and setbacks he has suffered, DiPietro is inclined to be cautious.
“My goal is to come back as soon as possible and as healthy as possible,” the goalie said. “I feel helpless, but no one wants me to get hurt again and I don’t want to deal with this again. I want to make sure when I come back this time, it’s for good.”
So do the Islanders, who invested 15 years and $60 million into DiPietro, now 27. He’s three years into that contract and has had a pair of knee surgeries and two concussions, as well as surgeries to each hip.
“It’s crazy,” DiPietro said. “It’s like someone has a voodoo doll and keeps poking me. I’ve done everything but seek alternative medicine in different countries. I’ve asked about it, but there’s nothing to do but hard work.”
In spite of his problems staying on the ice, DiPietro doesn’t intend to change his playing style when he does return.
“I don’t think I will ever let that affect the way I play,” DiPietro said. “That might be part of the problem.”
He said that with somewhat of a rueful laugh, knowing his injury woes have kept the Isles wallowing near the bottom of the league, despite their recent success. He insists that won’t be for long and that they won’t end up regretting his epic contract.
“I’ve had a lot of bad luck, which [stinks],” DiPietro said. “But in the long run, it’s going to work out. There’s absolutely no question that my goal since signing that deal was to win here, and everyone here wants to win the Stanley Cup. I think we’re taking the right steps.”