Remember him? DiPietro finally returns

Almost one full year.

That's how long it's been since Rick DiPietro has been on the ice in an NHL game for the Islanders, 364 days since a 5-4 loss in Phoenix. Now, rising from the ashes, DiPietro will be trying to win the Isles some games, while proving to the many doubters that his pro career is far from over.

Hard to believe it's been that long, but as a Mets fan, I've become accustomed to seeing my team's top players out of action for longer than anyone expected (hello, Jose Reyes).

A lot's happened in the 12 months that DP's been out. Barack Obama took over as president. Banks were bailed out. Man walked on the moon (wait, it hasn't been THAT long).

The Islanders carried on without their franchise player, and while the record was disastrous without NHL-caliber netminders, it did help them land John Tavares with the No. 1 pick. So maybe DP (or at least his knee) deserves some thanks.

Credit Garth Snow for landing Dwayne Roloson, who has been outstanding, and Martin Biron, to help man the nets until DiPietro was ready to return. Roloson's performance in particular made it easier to let DP take his sweet time in rehab.

And wouldn't you know it, the Isles have done pretty well without No. 39. Matt Moulson has been a revelation with 16 goals, Tavares has shown he's the real deal, also with 16 scores, and Kyle Okposo has been terrific as well. The Isles are just three points out of a playoff spot.

Goaltending, however, hasn't been the issue at all, thanks to Roloson, and DP isn't going to score much, no matter how far away from his net he roams. But while DiPietro's return won't help the Isles light the lamp, it could provide a huge boost defensive and, possibly, emotionally, if he can return to his previous form.

That's a huge 'if.' Let's take it one game at a time. It will be great to see DiPietro finally back in goal, shaking off the rust.

It's a new year for everyone.

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I love John Buccigross and his blogumns on ESPN.com, but I have to take issue with his latest edition, where in his mid-season look at all 30 teams he says of the Islanders, "Start losing and get down to the bottom three of the league to draft another star."

I hate that thinking. Sure, getting Tavares was huge, but you never tempt the hockey gods with talk of tanking to get a better draft pick. That's a sure sign of the return of Scott Scissons.

AC/DC, the NHL and Bucci

John Buccigross' column on ESPN.com is a must-read for me and anyone who loves hockey. His latest column -- or blogumn, as he likes to call it -- posits that AC/DC's "Back in Black" should be the soundtrack to the NHL.

I was moved to email John because AC/DC and the NHL have always been linked for me. I also wanted to let him know that I enjoy his weekly tributes to the late Jack Falla, hockey writer and professor at Boston University. Here's what I sent this morning:

John,

I graduated from BU in 1989 and while I didn't take any of Jack Falla's classes (I was a Broadcasting and Film major), I saw him quite a bit at Terriers men's hockey games, which I covered for the student newspaper, The Daily Free Press. Reading the heartfelt tributes from his former students makes me wish I knew him better.

Anyway, your AC/DC column struck a chord. One of my projects for Film Production I was to make a five-minute film. I chose to create an homage to "Greatest Sports Legends," an old show that I recall airing during rain delays of Mets games. My film, "Greatest Street Legends," profiled my younger brother, Joseph, billed as "the greatest roller hockey player on Penn Street." He was, in all honesty, a goal-scoring machine.

The piece opened with a straight-on shot of our garage door. As the door rolled up, you heard the tic-tic-tic-tic opening of "Back in Black." When the first quitar chord slammed home, you saw Joe decked out in his black Bruins Cam Neely jersey, ready to rock. Cut to an overhead shot of him skating down the driveway and out into the street -- taken by me sitting on the roof.

The soundtrack was all AC/DC, except for the finale and closing credits, which featured "We Are the Champions" behind shots of Joe lighting the lamp, intercut with crowd shots lifted from Islanders Stanley Cup celebrations used without the express written consent of the National Hockey League.

My professor thought it was OK -- I got a B-plus. Classmates who were more interested in making arty, indecipherable exercises in ego just didn't get it. But there was one guy in class -- a New Hampshire kid who played in a rock band -- who came up to me and said, "That was my childhood right there."

To this day, it is the finest compliment I have ever received.

AC/DC and the NHL -- perfect together.

Mike Gasparino
Proud Islanders Blog Boxer from Saint James, NY

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We'll see if it makes it into the "Mother of All Mailbags" section of his next column, but I figured I'd post it here to see if anyone else feels the same way about hockey and the Thunder from Down Under.

As for my favorite AC/DC songs (glad you asked!), I'd have to include:

It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N Roll)
Rocker
Ride On
Squealer
The Jack
T.N.T.
Inject the Venom
Back in Black
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)