NHL

Islanders playoff run putting a damper on Esiason wedding

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Social Links for Mollie Walker
Published June 11, 2021, 5:32 p.m. ET

Last season, Matt Martin had to leave for the NHL playoff bubble roughly two weeks after his first daughter, Winnie, was born. This season, the gritty Islanders fourth-liner will have to miss out on his brother-in-law Gunnar Esiason’s wedding.

Martin, who is married to WFAN host Boomer Esiason’s daughter, Sydney, was supposed to be a groomsman at the June 19 wedding, Boomer revealed on his show Friday morning. Coincidentally, the Islanders are scheduled to play Game 4 of the Stanley Cup semifinals against the Lightning on June 19, as well.

Matt Martin; Sydney Esiason
Matt Martin; Sydney Esiason Getty Images; Anne Wermiel/NY Post

“When they set the day, we were always kind of hoping that this would be the problem,” Martin said Friday. “It’d be nice to be there to celebrate the marriage, but I think the whole family understands that the Islanders are chasing … something special right now. I’d imagine most of them will be tuning in at some point throughout the night to check the game score.

“They’ll still have a great night, and obviously really happy for them and what they’re about to experience in their young lives and, at the same time, extremely focused on what we’ve got going on here. This is what we play all year for so we’re excited to continue this journey.”

Gunnar Esiason is set to wed Darcy Cunningham at the same time as puck drop for Game 4, per Boomer. It’s more of a dilemma for Sydney, who has to miss out on a pivotal game for her husband.

“So devastated I won’t be at Game 3 of 4 (and so excited and happy for @G17Esiason),” Sydney wrote in response to a Twitter user who offered to accompany her to the wedding in Martin’s place. “But I need you in my place at the Coli bringing the noise.”