"Rick DiPietro has made it through months of practice and drills without getting hurt. Tonight, he and the Islanders will see how his body holds up during a game.

It's been nearly a year since the team's injury-prone franchise goalie has suited up. Last January, swelling in his surgically repaired knee forced him from the lineup again.

"This is really big for him," said GM Garth Snow, who will be in Bridgeport tonight to see the Isles' AHL affiliate Sound Tigers host Springfield with DiPietro in net for the first time since Jan. 2. "It's certainly been a long road to recovery for him."

That's an understatement. And it's why, even with the team coming off one of its best victories of this surprisingly successful season and visiting Tampa Bay tonight, the eyes of the franchise will be focused just as squarely on DiPietro.

The 28-year-old, who appeared in only five games with the Isles last season, is scheduled to play 20-30 minutes tonight and then a full game either Friday in Springfield or Saturday in Hartford, followed by another entire match on Dec. 15 in Bridgeport."