March 3, 2013
First week in Bridgeport borderline disastrous for DiPietro
by Christian Arnold/Correspondent
Rick DiPietro's struggles have followed him from Long Island to Bridgeport. (Getty Images)
With an 0-3 record and a woeful .855 save percentage, it was clear things weren’t going well on Long Island for Rick DiPietro, prompting his demotion to the minors. The netminder’s fortunes haven’t changed all that much so far in Bridgeport.
DiPietro saw just 20 minutes of action in his first game with the = Sound Tigers before head coach Scott Pellerin pulled him in favor of Kenny Reiter.
The former BU Terrier gave up five goals on 12 shots in Bridgeport’s loss to the Connecticut Whale on Friday. DiPietro wasn’t given much help from his new Sound Tiger teammates, who took back-to-back penalties in the opening minutes of the game.
"I'm disappointed, obviously," DiPietro, who was making his first start since being waived and seeing game action for the first time since Feb. 19, told Newsday after the game. "It's really not the start or the result, I don't think, anyone wanted. Tomorrow is a new day. I'll get back on the ice tomorrow and just get better."
Pellerin stuck by his word and gave DiPietro the nod the next night against the Adirondack Phantoms at Webster Bank Arena. Just as he did Friday, the embattled goalie struggled in the opening period, giving up two goals on 14 shots.
Bridgeport’s defense limited the Phantoms to just 11 shots over the final 40 minutes, however, and DiPietro got the ‘W’ with 22 saves on 25 shots in a 4-3 victory. Through two games, he now owns a 1-1 record with a 6.00 goals-against average and .784 save percentage.
His AHL season debut also came a day after DiPietro created quite a stir by suggesting in an interview with News 12 that he had suicidal thoughts during his attempts to regain his All-Star form. He later clarified his comments, saying that he was being facetious.
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