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The Skinny: Carolina 6, Isles 3 (Carolina wins series 4-1)

"The Skinny" By Eric Hornick Eastern Conference Round 1, Game 5 Carolina 6, Isles 3 Carolina Wins Series 4-1 School is out. Jack D...

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Something old (Martinek), something new (Poulin)

Both Radek Martinek and Kevin Poulin will make their season debuts tonight for the Isles.

For Martinek, it will be his first NHL game since October 21, 2011 when he was injured early in a game for Columbus in Detroit. His last Islander game was on April 9, 2011 in Philadelphia.

He has played 460 NHL games, all but seven for the Isles, since debuting in the NHL October 5 2001 in Tampa (also first game Laviolette coached for Isles).

Martinek is one of three active NHL players born in August of 1976.  Ironically, all three (Lubomir Visnovsky and Eric Boulton) play for the Islanders.


Kevin Poulin has appeared in 16 NHL games (including one for :17 in Pittsburgh, when he replaced an injured Rick DiPietro) in parts of two seasons with the Isles.

In his 15 significant appearances, Poulin has allowed five goals once (1/17/11 vs. New Jersey) and three goals or less in every other appearance  (He was pulled after allowing 2 goals in 1:35 to Ottawa last President's Day).

Overall, Poulin is 6-6-1 in his NHL career, with a 2.67 GAA and a .917 save percentage. His last two NHL wins were both against Carolina (1/31/12 and 2/18/12).  He allowed five goals total in the two games. 

Poulin's last NHL appearance was just over a year ago (2/21/12). Poulin made 35 saves, and was credited with his first NHL assist, but dropped a 2-1 decision in Buffalo (in a game that Jack Capuano missed with the flu).

Poulin was selected 126th overall by the Islanders in 2008; he is one of 9 players drafted by the Islanders that year to play in the NHL, including current teammates Josh Bailey(9th), Travis Hamonic (53rd), David Ullstrom (102nd), and Matt Martin (148th). 

 
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

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