Mike Mottau done for the season; Rick DiPietro placed on IR

 Defenseman  Mike Mottau will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hip to repair a torn labrum. The injury was a lingering issue that pre-dated the eye injury (hyphema) that has sidelined him since November 21.

The 32-year-old veteran, signed when top defenseman Mark Streit suffered a serious pre-season shoulder injury, played 20 games this season for the Islanders.

Goaltender Rick DiPietro has also been placed on the IR with swelling in his surgically-repaired left knee.

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Hits really keep on coming for the Islanders. As tweeted previously, I'm about to board a flight home for the holidays, but follow Newsday's Arthur Staple for all your Islanders news over hte next few days @StapeNewsday and on his Center Ice blog here.