Islanders activate veteran forward

The New York Islanders have activated veteran forward Matt Martin off of injured reserve, according to a team announcement.

The move paves the way for Martin, 34, to return to the Islanders lineup for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils after an injury-related absence kept him off the ice since Nov. 15.

A veteran of nearly 1,000 games, Martin is an established fourth-line grinder. While he’s never scored more than 19 points in a single season, he’s racked up over 1,100 career penalty minutes and over 3,700 career hits. Martin has been on numerous playoff runs with the Islanders, including back-to-back runs to the Eastern Conference Final where he chipped in a total of six goals.

Now healthy, Martin will in all likelihood resume his role on the Islanders’ fourth line, alongside longtime linemates Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck.

2016 first-round pick Julien Gauthier had been playing on the “identity line” with Cizikas and Clutterbuck in Martin’s absence, and has registered nine hits in just three games played this season.