Martin's timetable

Penguins defenseman Paul Martin was named to the U.S. Olympic team, and is confident he'll be healthy long before the Games begin in Sochi, Russia next month.

That's significant, because Martin has missed the past 16 games because of a broken tibia.

He hopes to get clearance to resume skating before the end of this week, and to get back in the lineup sometime in the second half of the month.

“I’d like to get in six to 10 games toward the end of this month and in early February,” he said this evening.

Martin raised the possibility of returning for a game against Washington Jan. 15, but conceded that he likely wouldn't come back until sometime after that.

The Penguins have four days off after facing the Capitals, which is their only game during an eight-day stretch in the middle of the month.