DIPIETRO NAMED NHL TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER 

DIPIETRO NAMED NHL TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Islanders' goaltender Rick DiPietro has been named the NHL's Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 12. He led the Islanders to three victories with a 0.95 goals-against average and .966 save percentage.

DiPietro began the week by making 30 saves in a 2-1 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils March 7. He turned aside 22 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs March 10 and finished the week by making 32 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on March 11.

DiPietro is 24-17-4 with a 3.17 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 49 games this season.