Islanders' Game 4 win means Matt Martin still could play another game
New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin sets before a face off against the Montreal Canadiens in the third period of an NHL hockey game at UBS Arena on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Matt Martin still has another chance to play a game for the Islanders.
A lower-body injury sidelined the fourth-line left wing for the Islanders’ season-saving 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 4 of their first-round series with the Hurricanes at UBS Arena.
Ruslan Iskhakov, a 5-8, 170-pound rookie making his NHL playoff debut, logged a team-low 5:58 in eight shifts in Martin’s spot with rookie center Kyle MacLean and Cal Clutterbuck, who received only 7:02 of ice time.
Coach Patrick Roy said Martin is day-to-day. “If he wasn’t injured, he would play,” Roy said of Martin, who will turn 35 on May 8. “I have so much respect for what he brought to this organization.”
Martin, completing a four-year, $6 million deal, has yet to declaratively say this is his final NHL season as he was frequently questioned on the topic. But even if he wants to play next season, there’s a good chance he won’t fit into the Islanders’ plans.
Martin missed Wednesday’s practice for maintenance but was able to play in Thursday night’s 3-2 loss in Game 3 despite Roy listing him as a game-time decision.
So Saturday marked the Islanders’ first playoff match since Game 5 in the first round against the Sabres in 2007 that did not include Martin in their lineup. He had played in 82 straight playoff games since 2013.
Iskhakov, 23, a second-round pick in 2018, made his NHL debut with an assist in the Islanders’ 5-4 win over the visiting Penguins on April 17 in the regular-season finale, which had no playoff implications.
Obviously, a win-or-else playoff game was different.
“It was crazy,” Iskhakov said. “The atmosphere was absolutely amazing. It was awesome to get the win in my first playoff game. You can’t ask for a better experience.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
