Islanders’ Matt Martin proves worth even when he’s not in lineup
LAS VEGAS The value of a player like Matt Martin sometimes becomes more clear when hes not in the lineup.
That was the case in Colorado on Tuesday after Samuel Girard laid out Robert Bortuzzo with a hit along the wall, eliciting little response from the Islanders. Two days later, Martin was right back in the lineup after having been a healthy scratch for five of seven games.
I just think I know what I bring to the table as a player, the 34-year-old Martin told The Post before scoring a third-period goal in a little more than 13 minutes of ice time during Saturdays 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights. I think Ive been doing it for a long time. I think they know as well what I bring as a player. So I just try to worry about those things and when your names called upon, you can go out and try and play a good game.
The combination of injury and being scratched meant that Saturday was just the 18th game Martin has played this season. His time on ice is the lowest it has been since he returned to the Islanders in 2018 as well.
3A diving Matt Martin scores a goal on Logan Thompson during the third period of the Islanders’ loss. APHis spot in the lineup is no longer guaranteed on a nightly basis on a team for which Hudson Fasching has shown himself perfectly capable of playing a straight-line game in the bottom-six.
But there is still value in the physicality Martin brings.
That was confirmed not just when Martin was out of the lineup but when he returned in Thursdays 5-1 win over the Coyotes, reuniting the Identity Line on an evening in which it was typically effective.
The trio of Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck is not the nightly machine it once was.
3Saturday was only Matt Martin’s 18th game this season. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConBut it does hold a 51.39 expected goals percentage this season, and has been on the ice for just two goals against over 16 games.
They are not running on empty. Neither is Martin, whether playing every night or not.
Those decisions are out of my control at the end of the day. You try not to focus on that stuff too much, Martin said. I think as Ive gotten older, Ive gotten better at that. Obviously Ive been healthy-scratched different times throughout my career. Really just try to focus on your day-to-day.
3Matt Martin pursues Rasmus Sandin during the second period of the Islanders’ 5-1 win over the Capitals on Dec. 29. APGenerally youre always gonna get another opportunity sooner or later. Its our responsibility as players to be prepared for that. Doesnt make it easy but certainly you gotta keep your mind right and continue to prepare, be a good teammate, do the right things that way. Its never easy to be scratched, you never want to be out of the lineup. You come back in, you gotta do what you can to make that impression.
The context around Martins role, combined with him being on the last year of his contract at age 34, lends itself not just to questions about trying to compete for playing time but about his future.
There is every chance this season could be the lst ride for the player who has spent 13 of his 15 seasons on Long Island and helped drive the best fourth line in hockey.
Even with a two-year hiatus in Toronto, few players have been as synonymous with the Islanders over the last decade. Few have been as integral to the teams renaissance that began when Lou Lamoriello took over the reins in 2018 and brought Martin back with him from Toronto.
Havent really thought about it to this point. Obviously people ask about the future, Martin said. Not only reporters, even friends and family ask about it. But I have no idea how Im gonna feel in five months. Im just focused on tonight, focused on what we want to do as a team. Everything else will just play itself out when the time comes.
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