Islanders' Matt Martin fights through tears to describe what could be his final home game with club
Matt Martin of the Islanders waves to the crowd following a game against the Capitals on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Elmont. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Seconds before the tears flowed and he choked up thinking about what was almost certainly his last home game as an Islander, Matt Martin smiled and acknowledged his wife would be pleased that he indeed was dealing with some extra emotions before, during and after Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to the playoff-bound Capitals at UBS Arena.
“A little bit, for sure,” Martin said after the Islanders’ morning skate. “Sydney will be happy about that. She’s been on me a little bit about how I’m not emotional enough. But, you know, this is a special place…”
And then came a 10-second pause as the big guy, drafted in the fifth round by the Islanders in 2008 and who has played all but two of his 16 NHL seasons in an Islanders jersey selflessly protecting his teammates and helping to set the team’s hard-working, gritty identity, put his head down and was overcome by his feelings.
“I’ve been so proud to wear this jersey and be part of this team and community,” Martin said finally, his voice still wavering as he tried to fight back his tears.
“You know I obviously don’t know what the future holds. But through the good and the bad and heartbreaks and all of it, it’s always been a pleasure to be part of this team and wear this uniform.”
The Islanders, eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2022, conclude the season on Thursday night in Columbus.
Martin played 12:17 against the Capitals, who, in a move captain Anders Lee called “classy,” lined up to congratulate their opponent after the final buzzer. Former teammate Anthony Beauvillier, who jokingly asked Martin to fight off the opening faceoff, gave him the biggest hug.
Martin was named the game’s first star as he was surrounded by teammates in a team hug at center ice before waving to the sell-out crowd for a last time.
In the third period, a video highlighting Martin’s charity work on Long Island was shown after he was announced as the Islanders’ nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy awarded to “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
That was acknowledged with a standing ovation.
“It was pretty special,” Martin said. “Honestly, I didn’t wake up today expecting anything.”
Coach Patrick Roy bestowed an “A” on Martin’s jersey as an alternate captain, the first time in Martin’s career he has worn a letter in a regular-season game. The fourth-liner was in the starting lineup so the fan favorite’s name could be announced and cheered.
After the morning skate, Martin went to the middle of the team’s huddle with his teammates coming together in a tight circle around him.
At UBS Arena, Sydney Esiason Martin watched the game from a suite along with, among others, Matt Martin’s father-in-law Boomer Esiason. The crowd chanted “Mat-ty Martin, Mat-ty Martin,” repeatedly when he was on the ice.
“You all know how we feel about him and what he means to this organization, what he means to this team, let alone what he means to Long Island,” longtime teammate Casey Cizikas said. “He’s one of a kind. There are not too many people that are like him that are so giving, so easy to get along with, so easy to talk to and always putting people ahead of himself. That’s something that I think a lot of people respect about him.”
Martin, who turns 36 next month, is a pending unrestricted free agent as he completes a one-year, $775,000 deal that he signed on Oct. 26 after coming to Islanders’ training camp on a professional tryout offer. Tuesday’s home finale marked just his 31st game this season and he was a healthy scratch for 30 straight games from Jan. 18-April 1.
Notes & quotes: The Capitals’ Dylan Strome capped his third career hat trick with an empty-net goal…Jean-Gabriel Pageau brought the Islanders within 2-1 at 11:36 of the third period…Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves while Charlie Lindgren stopped 32 shots for the Capitals…Defenseman Adam Pelech logged 18:24 after being forced from Sunday’s 1-0 road win over the Devils to go through concussion protocol after a high hit from Paul Cotter, who received a match penalty and was suspended two games…Defenseman Alexander Romanov missed the game because of illness, so Scott Perunovich logged 18:09 with two blocked shots in his first action since Feb. 25 after being a healthy scratch for 23 games.
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.
