Rick DiPietro could make his long-awaited return to the Islanders’ lineup as soon as tonight.
Although the Islanders have yet to announce any definite plans for when the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft is supposed to make his season debut, it is expected to happen either tonight in Dallas (8:30; MSG+, WMJC) or tomorrow in Phoenix.
After playing in games for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport last Friday and Sunday, DiPietro practiced with the team Monday and was the backup to Dwayne Roloson in Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over Colorado.
DiPietro’s last game for the Islanders was Jan. 2 of last year. He played in only five games all season, going 1-3 with a 3.52 goals against average before sitting out the rest of the season because of repeated swelling in his left knee after undergoing a pair of operations.