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Goalie fight gone wrong: Rick DiPietro out 4-6 weeks with facial fractures, swelling in his knee

Rick DiPietro, Brent Johnson

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Brent Johnson (1) knocks New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro to the ice with a punch in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. The Penguins shut out the Islanders 3-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

It turns out that Brent Johnson hurt more than Rick DiPietro’s pride when he landed a one-punch knockout during their goalie fight on Wednesday night.

The New York Islanders report that their constantly injured netminder will miss four to six weeks with facial fractures from the punch, although the Islanders listed knee swelling as another reason why he will miss a big chunk of time.

While there is certainly some dark humor to the injury, it makes that resounding clip a little bit sad. Then again, DiPietro was probably being pretty foolish when he went into that fight, considering his health problems and previous concussion issues. (Something that Mike Milbury discussed earlier this week.)

This injury could spur the Islanders to make a move for a goalie at some point, although they missed their chance to claim Mike Smith off of waivers. It’s just been one of those years for a franchise that has had quite a few of “those years” and DiPietro is the embodiment of those struggles.

Here’s the video of that fight one more time.
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