NEWARK – Matt Martin’s identity on the Islanders’ identity-setting fourth line is that of a physical player who will defend his teammates.
But the longtime fan favorite has game, too, entering Saturday night’s rematch with the Devils at Prudential Center with five goals in his first 27 games. That matched the five goals he had in 22 postseason games last year in the Islanders’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.
And Martin was the first player coach Barry Trotz used to replace Anders Lee’s net-front presence on the first power-play unit after the captain injured his right leg in the first period of Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Devils at Nassau Coliseum.