Not starting DiPietro cost Nolan in the end

From Larry Brooks of the NY Post:

TED Nolan fired himself the first week of March when he picked against Rick DiPietro for both ends of a home-and-home series against the New York Rangers .

Forget any and all of the mitigating circumstances existing at the time that might have made backup Wade Dubielewicz the rational choice for either or both of the matches, for the moment the head coach crossed the franchise goaltender, he crossed the line.

Read the entire article here.

I have to say, I did think about that decision when I heard of his firing on Monday. That’s not to say that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, however, it sure didn’t help his cause within the organization. Regardless, Nolan and Snow had two different visions of where the Islanders were headed and you cannot have that kind of discord between a coach and GM.