"This is crazy..."

That's pretty much what Islanders captain Bill Guerin said in response to a question about the moutning Islanders injuries.

You think, Bill?

Infact, it's becoming more of a humourous situation than of a frustrating kind. You could see it in Scott Gordon's face when asked if he can believe that this is happening.

Gordon looked at reporter and in a moment of candor and honest, cracked a smile almost like he was going to start laughing.

"I can believe it."

It seemed like the first time in a long time, when asked about injuries, we didn't get the usual "injuries are part of the game" and "you got to deal with the hand you're dealt" rhetoric from the team.

Joey MacDonald going down seemed to be a breaking point, where everyone just threw their hands up in the air saying "here we go again..."

On a day when it was announced Doug Weight will miss 2-4 weeks, that Andy Sutton will now be out 8-10 weeks, the news that the goaltender who has made this season better than it really should have going down with a groin strain is just catastrophic, and just plain not surprising.

Just for fun...lets take a look at the various incarnations of the Islanders lineup this year, in ten-game intervals. First, the season opener, a 2-1 loss in New Jersey:

Goaltenders
35 Joey MacDonald
39 Rick DiPietro

Defensemen
32 Brendan Witt – 24 Radek Martinek
38 Jack Hillen – 2 Mark Streit
44 Freddy Meyer – 8 Bruno Gervais

Forwards
16 Jon Sim - 93 Doug Weight – 13 Bill Guerin
15 Jeff Tambellini – 51 Frans Nielsen – 7 Trent Hunter
89 Mike Comrie – 10 Richard Park – 11 Andy Hilbert
20 Sean Bergenheim – 45 Nate Thompson – 21 Kyle Okposo

That seems to be like the closest of a complete lineup the Islanders have put out on the ice this year. Now let's look at Game 10: a rough 5-4 loss at the Nassau Coliseum against Montreal... This is where the no DiPietro thing starts to become more like the status quo.

Goaltenders
34 Yann Danis
35 Joey MacDonald

Defensemen
25 Andy Sutton - 4 Brett Skinner
17 Thomas Pock - 2 Mark Streit
14 Chris Campoli - 8 Bruno Gervais

Forwards
93 Doug Weight - 13 Bill Guerin - 20 Sean Bergenheim
21 Kyle Okposo - 51 Frans Nielsen - 7 Trent Hunter
10 Richard Park - 45 Nate Thompson - 11 Andy Hilbert
49 Mitch Fritz - 89 Mike Comrie - 16 Jon Sim

Ok...not much change here, except for the Fritzie addition due to Tambellini being a healthy scratch. The defensive carousel began to start here, and Danis got a rare start in net.

Now let's take a look at Game 20: a rare 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena. Here's where things start to come undone...

Goaltenders
35 Joey MacDonald
1 Peter Mannino

Defensemen
2 Mark Streit - 25 Andy Sutton
8 Bruno Gervais - 32 Brendan Witt
14 Chris Campoli - 24 Radek Martinek

Forwards
20 Sean Bergenheim - 93 Doug Weight - 13 Bill Guerin
11 Andy Hilbert - 12 Josh Bailey - 7 Trent Hunter
16 Jon Sim - 10 Richard Park - 15 Jeff Tambellini
49 Mitch Fritz - 27 Jeremy Colliton - 28 Tim Jackman

Here, we'll insert newcomer Josh Bailey. We also completely new fourth line as well as Comrie, Thompson, and Nielsen all went down with injuries. Also welcome Peter Mannino as Joey MacDonald's new backup.

Now let's go to Game 30: a 3-1 loss in Columbus. Round and round the injruy carousel goes....

Goaltenders
35 Joey MacDonald
34 Yann Danis

Defensemen
2 Mark Streit - 32 Brendan Witt
25 Andy Sutton - 44 Freddy Meyer
14 Chris Campoli - 17 Thomas Pock

Forwards
20 Sean Bergenheim - 93 Doug Weight - 7 Trent Hunter
11 Andy Hilbert - 12 Josh Bailey - 13 Bill Guerin
16 Jon Sim - 10 Richard Park - 57 Blake Comeau
49 Mitch Fritz - 45 Nate Thompson - 28 Tim Jackman

Radek Martinek is out again. (Shocked?) We've got the return of Nate Thompson, but Kyle Okposo had to miss some time with a wrist injury. No sign of Mike Comrie still, and Jeff Tambellini is with Bridgeport looking for goals...all this time I also forgot Shawn Bates...errr...Mike Sillinger played here...

Now we'll go to San Jose for Game 40: a 5-3 loss against the Sharks

Goaltenders
35 Joey MacDonald
39 Rick DiPietro

Defensemen
2 Mark Streit - 17 Thomas Pock
8 Bruno Gervais - 14 Chris Campoli
32 Brendan Witt - 44 Freddy Meyer

Forwards
57 Blake Comeau - 89 Mike Comrie - 21 Kyle Okposo
77 Trevor Smith - 93 Doug Weight - 7 Trent Hunter
15 Jeff Tambellini - 12 Josh Bailey - 13 Bill Guerin
20 Sean Bergenheim - 10 Richard Park - 28 Tim Jackman

Hey! Is that Rick DiPietro? Don't get used to that...Welcome to Trevor Smith to the lineup, replacing the now-injured Andy Hilbert. Nate Thompson back on the injury list with a fractured ankle. And Jon Sim continued to toe the fine line of healthy scratch/active status. Mike Comrie and Kyle Okposo are also back following super-human recoveries. Oh, and Andy Sutton broke his foot and is going to miss significant time!

Now let's go to last night's 2-1 loss against the New York Rangers

Goaltenders
35 Joey MacDonald
34 Yann Danis

Defensemen
32 Brendan Witt - 24 Radek Martinek
8 Bruno Gervais - 2 Mark Streit
14 Chris Campoli - 17 Thomas Pock

Forwards
13 Bill Guerin - 12 Josh Bailey - 10 Richard Park
57 Blake Comeau - 89 Mike Comrie - 21 Kyle Okposo
15 Jeff Tambellini - 51 Frans Nielsen - 7 Trent Hunter
20 Sean Bergenheim - 45 Nate Thompson - 28 Tim Jackman

Well, we all know Joey MacDonald went down with a groin strain, leaving the possibility of a quick Danis-Mannino NHL goaltender tandem, much like the time in the 2005-06 season when we were subjected to a Wade Dubielewicz-Frederic Cloutier tandem for a few games.

Frans Nielsen and Nate Thompson both returned, but obviously there needs to be a new injury to offset that (MacDonald). Also missing is Doug Weight and Andy Sutton, whose injuries were mentioned above.

Two steps forward, three steps back.

Nevertheless, this already tough season is getting tougher. And quite frankly, if anyone was surprised, just ask Scott Gordon, he believes it.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to start working on my goaltending skills...