Isles lose Martinek for the season, Weight out a week, Sound Tiger arrested

November 7, 5:18 PMNew York Islanders ExaminerLee Forman

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Just add this one to a laundry list of problems the New York Islanders have encountered over the past week.  After riding high on a 4 game winning streak, the team entire organization has crashed back down to Earth in frightening fashion.

The Isles dropped their second straight game Friday night, but lost more than just a game to a division rival.  Radek Martinek, one of Scott Gordon's better defensemen, went down in the third period with an apparent lower body injury and did not return.  Tests on Saturday revealed that the 33 year-old tore the ACL in his right knee, effectively ending his 2009-10 campaign.  

Martinek, an Islander for his entire NHL career, has endured numerous injuries.  The 1999 8th round pick has only managed to average 49 games played per season throughout his 8 years on Long Island.  The Czechoslovakian-born defender registered 2 goals, an assist, and a minus-1 rating in 16 games this year.  Expect Freddy Meyer, a frequent healthy scratch, to suit up in his place.  Andrew MacDonald of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers has just moved one step closer to appearing with the Isles sometime in early 2010.   

The front office also needs to make a decision regarding who will fill in for team captain Doug Weight.  The 38 year-old forward is expected to miss a week after being diagnosed with an undisclosed upper body injury.  Weight has already missed 5 of 16 games this year due to a groin injury suffered in training camp, as well as a recent bout with the notorious H1N1 virus. 

Unlike the situation on the blue-line, Garth Snow and Scott Gordon have a few viable options to fill Weight's vacant spot in the line-up.  Young forwards Blake Comeau and Rob Schremp have been traveling with the team as healthy scratches, while Trent Hunter is close to returning from a torn pectoral muscle.  Add in the recent offensive woes (1 goal in previous 2 games), and all three players could find themselves in uniform this week.  Struggling forwards Jon Sim, Nate Thompson, and even Josh Bailey could be in danger of spending some extra time in the press box. 

The Islanders organization has also been dragged into a serious occurrence involving one of their current prospects in Bridgeport.  Bobby Hughes, acquired in an offseason trade, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault stemming from an incident last year in Bethlehem, NY.  The 21 year-old was arrested at the Arena at Harbor Yard following Wednesday's game against the Adirondack Phantoms.  Sound Tigers President Howard Saffan spoke with Newsday's Katie Strang concerning the matter.   

"This was an incident that occurred during his tenure in Albany [with the River Rats] and we had no information regarding this," Saffen stated.  "We first learned of this when the U.S. Marshals showed up at our door."

More on this story as information becomes available. 

For more info: Stay up-to-date with Chris Botta and Katie Strang.