Examining the New York Islanders goaltenders

Rick DiPietro tied a team record while posting a career-high 32 wins and becoming the first Islanders goalie to win 30 games in consecutive seasons. He ranked sixth in the NHL with a .919 save percentage and five shutouts. DiPietro faced an NHL-high 28.4 shots per game and posted a 2.58 goals-against average in 62 games. The Islanders signed DiPietro to a 15-year contract last year, so he'll be the No. 1 goalie for some time to come. DiPietro missed eight games at the end of the season and the first playoff game against Buffalo after suffering two concussions in March. He also underwent hip surgery in May, though he appears to be fully recovered.

Backup plan

Wade Dubielewicz became a folk hero on Long Island by stepping in and winning the Islanders' final four games last season, carrying them to a playoff berth. No one should have been surprised. Dubielewicz was an All-American selection at Denver University, where he was named to an All-WCHA team in three seasons and set school records for wins and goals-against average. Dubielewicz was a Hobey Baker Finalist for the Pioneers. He was the AHL rookie of the year in 2003-04, when he allowed the fewest goals in the AHL. He was 22-12-5 with a .922 save percentage at Bridgeport when the Islanders brought him up after DiPietro’s injury in March.

In the Wings

Joey McDonald -- Joey MacDonald toiled with Grand Rapids in the AHL from 2002-06, going 88-57-7, then played 15 NHL games last season in Detroit and Boston. He was 2-2-1 for the Bruins with a 2.68 GAA and .918 save percentage.

Mike Morrison -- Like Snow and now-retired Mike Dunham, Morrison played at the University of Maine. He is 11-7-3 in 29 NHL games with Edmonton, Ottawa and Phoenix. He was outstanding for a stretch two years ago with the Oilers, got lost in the shuffle and had only brief opportunities with the Senators and Coyotes.

Maxime Ouellet -- The 22nd-overall pick in the 1999 Entry Draft, Ouellet has a 2-6-2 record in 12 NHL games with Philadelphia, Washington and Vancouver. He’s had a couple of good minor-league seasons, but it's been a while. Ouellet had an unusual year last year, chasing minor-league and European offers but failed to get in a game.