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Al Montoya gets Isles opening night start over Rick DiPietro and Evgeni Nabokov

New Jersey Devils v New York Islanders

UNIONDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Al Montoya #35 of the New York Islanders looks on during the pregame warm-up prior to the preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum on September 24, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images for New York Islanders)

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When you’ve got Rick DiPietro, Evgeni Nabokov, and Al Montoya to choose from to start the first game of the year, you’ve just got to go with Al Montoya every time.

That’s apparently what Isles coach Jack Capuano thought as the Isles kick off their season tonight against the Panthers as Montoya gets the call to start in goal over his more experienced fellow goalies. Capuano says he’s “going with a gut feeling” in giving Montoya the start. It’s either that or he wants to prevent from seeing Rick DiPietro have a black cat cross his path on the way to the arena and end up getting broken in the process.

The Isles are rolling with the three-man rotation in goal so it’s not a shock that Montoya gets a start. But on their opening night in front of fired up Isles fans hopeful to see the team make a run at the playoffs, it’s a bit of a shock to not see either DiPietro or Nabokov get the call for the first game.