"The competitor in Rick DiPietro smiled Wednesday, when the Islanders' oft-injured goalie was activated from injured reserve after being out of action since out since Feb. 1 when he suffered a facial fracture in a fight with the Penguins goalie Brent Johnson.

The time off also gave the 29-year-old netminder some relief for his surgically repaired left knee, which was going through intermittent swelling during the 21 games DiPietro did play in the first part of the season.

"I feel good," DiPietro said Wednesday. "Any time you come back from an injury, it's a long and strenuous process, but it's nice to be back around the guys and looking forward to the road trip."

The Islanders next game is Friday at Carolina, followed by a swing through Florida when they play the Panthers on Saturday and the Lightning on Tuesday.

The Islanders come back to Long Island next Thursday to play the Thrashers.

How many of those games DiPietro starts in net is still to be determined. With 27-year-old rookie Nathan Lawson being sent back down to Bridgeport, the other goalie on the active roster is Al Montoya.

Montoya has played well since being acquired from the Coyotes for a sixth-round draft pick on Feb. 9, but was pulled in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers after giving up five goals in the first two periods."