[ThePundit]

It's not just the Islanders' last line of defense, goaltender Rick DiPietro, that is a major concern for a team sitting two points out of playoff position with six games left.

The entire defense is hanging by a thread.

Although no official announcement has been made, there's a strong possibility defensemen Freddy Meyer and Bruno Gervais have played for the last time this season, according to a person familiar with the situation.

It was overshadowed by the absence of DiPietro because of a headache in a 3-2 loss to the Devils Tuesday night, but Meyer was placed on the injured list "indefinitely" with a broken finger. The injury requires four to six weeks to heal, and the only reason Meyer's status was listed as "indefinite" is because of the possibility he could return if the Islanders somehow managed to reach the second round of the playoffs.

Meyer's injury actually was suffered two weeks earlier, and he tried to gut it out despite problems holding the stick.

Gervais has missed the past 18 games since reinjuring his ankle on Feb. 15. He resumed traveling with the team two weeks ago and appeared close to a return. But he has had setbacks. His first comeback from the high ankle sprain he originally suffered on Jan. 18 lasted only into his fifth game before he was reinjured.

Although Gervais has expressed optimism about returning this season, if the medical staff were confident his ankle would hold up, he would be in the lineup. But rather than risk another injury that could put Gervais' career at risk, the Islanders are more likely to hold him out the rest of this season.

Without Meyer, Gervais and Radek Martinek, who is out for the season with a fractured leg, the Islanders are down to the six defensemen who played against New Jersey. The most ice time was logged by Marc-Andre Bergeron (30:02) and Tom Poti (28:03). Then came Brendan Witt (22:39) and Sean Hill (19:1 and, finally, Chris Campoli (12:42) and Allan Rourke (5:41), who was recalled from Bridgeport to replace Meyer. The Isles got a scare in the first period when Hill, who recently sat out a game with a groin strain, went down. But he was able to finish.

As for DiPietro, he will be re-evaluated today when the Islanders resume practice after a day off, and a decision will be made as to whether he will accompany the team to Buffalo for tomorrow night's game.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey...295150074mar29

,0,6277809.story?coll=ny-islanders-print
Once again, I have to beg the second coming, Ryan Smyth to step up and do something. How about taking the team on your back?

[bossy4president]

He didn't make the trip.........