UNIONDALE, N.Y.—Praise for the Islanders’ fourth line has been steady this season, but the pinnacle of that came when hockey commentator Don Cherry called it “maybe the best fourth line ever in hockey.”
“You grow up watching ‘Hockey Night in Canada,’ so it’s pretty cool,” winger Matt Martin said. “I got a lot of texts about that.”
The New York fourth line of Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck has gotten attention for combining physicality typical of a fourth line with offensive skill. In the first round playoff series against the Capitals, the Islanders’ energy line has combined to score a goal, block nine shots and record 46 hits and 14 shots on goal.