Paul Martin’s return last night from a broken arm should have been in early December. As it is, we will never know if he might have been the little extra Team USA needed to beat Canada for the Olympic gold medal.
The difference was so slim. The Americans won the first meeting with Canada in the Olympics, 5-3, then stood tied after regulation in the gold medal game.
The Canadians ultimately triumphed 3-2 when the puck hit the referee, starting the sequence that culminated in Sidney Crosby getting a step on Brian Rafalski from the left boards to score the overtime winner.
Given such a narrow margin between the teams and Martin’s standing as the Americans’ second or third defenseman, behind Rafalski, he was asked if he thought he would have made the difference.
“I don’t think so,” Martin said. “Would I have helped? I’d like to think so.
“Some of the defensemen played a lot of minutes, and others not too many,” he added. “I definitely would have been able to eat up some of those minutes. I think I would have helped. I don’t think I’d have been the difference.” Rafalski was used like a rented mule in the Olympics, and it may have caught up with him in the gold medal game. But the Devils are glad to have Martin back for the stretch run.
Martin missed 59 games before returning to action last night, scoring a goal in the 5-2 victory over the Penguins last night at the Prudential Center. He only joined the team in practice Sunday, and had then expected to wait until Saturday’s visit by St. Louis. He saw his specialist Monday, and received word that he’s healed and ready to go.
Team USA had counted on Martin, even after he suffered his broken left arm Oct. 24 in Pittsburgh. The original prognosis was a 4-to-6 week absence, but in December, his bones had not knit properly and surgery was performed. Martin said that in hindsight, he wished he saw a specialist and undergone surgery in October.
Even then, it was supposed to be another 4-to-6 week absence, to the start of February and Martin held out hope he would play in Vancouver. It wasn’t until Feb. 1 that Martin gave up hope and pulled out of consideration.