Marc Gatcomb is making a case to stay with the NY Islanders even when they are fully healthy

The injury bug has plagued the NY Islanders over the past few weeks, but those injuries have created opportunities for other players to prove their value to the organization. 

After playing one game this season, Marc Gatcomb was placed on waivers before reporting to Bridgeport. But with Drouin out of the lineup, Gatcomb has returned to the lineup and has given the Islanders' fourth line a spark. 

In the four games since his recall, Gatcomb has recorded a team high 22 hits, including nine in Tuesday's OT win against the Vegas Golden Knights, the most for the Islanders since Casey Cizikas back in January. In fact, through five games this season, Gatcomb has registered 22 hits, seventh most of any Islander this season.

Registering his first goal of the season on Tuesday night, Gatcomb’s tally was a result of hard work from not just himself, but of the entire fourth line. Playing alongside Cizikas and Kyle MacLean, this fourth line provides endless energy in the limited minutes they play. 

At times this season, the Islanders have been forced to use forwards who are typically playing on a higher line, who just don’t do the same things as these three.

When Drouin is ready to return to the lineup, Patrick Roy will have a difficult decision regarding who will sit. But if this current fourth line continues to play the way it has been, it’s going to be difficult to break them apart. And Gatcomb has made a case for himself to remain in the lineup regardless of who is healthy.