Defenseman Martinek returns to Islanders

One game after getting back hulking blue-liner Milan Jurcina, the Islanders returned defenseman Radek Martinek to the lineup Tuesday night. The 34-year-old missed seven games with a lower-body injury suffered during a nasty collision into the boards.

"It's a big lift for our hockey team," coach Jack Capuano said of getting back Martinek. "Having him in the room and having a guy that can play 28 to 30 minutes a game is huge for us."

Martinek, who was paired Tuesday night with Jack Hillen, has two goals and eight assists in 50 games for the Islanders this season.

Eyes on De Costa

The Islanders are one of many teams scouting Merrimack University's Stephane De Costa, Newsday has learned.

The French forward, a potential Hobey Baker and Hockey East Player of the Year candidate, is an undrafted free agent drawing interest from several teams around the league.

The Islanders have had some luck dipping into the college pool, having signed Hillen out of Colorado College after his senior season. Since signing with the Islanders in April 2008, Hillen has seven goals and 36 assists in 163 games.

Islanders first-round draft pick Nino Niederreiter (2010, fifth overall) was named the WHL player of the week. Niederreiter picked up nine points (seven goals, two assists) in the past four games for the Portland (Ore.) Winterhawks.

Niederreiter has 36 goals and 25 assists in 49 games for Portland this season. He was sent back to his junior team after playing the first nine games of the season with the Islanders.