SAN JOSE — Defenseman Paul Martin has started 63 straight playoff games over the last five seasons.

His 64th straight postseason start — assuming he makes it on Thursday when the Sharks face the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their first round playoff series — will be noteworthy, to say the least.

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After an unpredictable year that included a long stay on injured reserve, an 18-game stint in the American Hockey League as his agent explored trade possibilities, and another long wait to get back in the lineup after he returned to the NHL, Martin, 37, will likely be alongside Brent Burns for the postseason opener.

Just like he has been for the Sharks’ last 30 playoff games.

“It’s been great getting back into the lineup again. Each game you get more comfortable and your instincts take over,” Martin said. “Being out that long and going through what I went through, you appreciate the time and the games and being with the guys.” Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

Martin needed to shed some rust after he first returned to the lineup March 17, right after Joakim Ryan, who looked good playing with Burns, suffered an upper body injury.

But Martin has gradually looked more comfortable, and, even as Ryan returned to full health in early April, remained in the lineup.

Martin said there wasn’t necessarily one moment where he felt he was back to his old self. It just started to come back piece-by-piece, like knowing how to make plays with Burns, gap awareness, fending off the opposing team’s forecheck.

“You think, ‘this is what I remember it being like. This is how it used to be,’” Martin said.

Perhaps now is when all that time off pays dividends. Instead of grinding though an 82-game regular season schedule, Martin, at least to his coaching staff, looks reinvigorated.

Sharks’ coach Pete DeBoer felt not just Martin, but his whole group was off in their 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, “but for the seven or eight games prior to that, he looked really good. He was moving well. He had a lot of energy, he was being proactive out there.

“And you know what, hey, he had a lot of time to rest and recharge and get ready for that. So I think we saw a re-energized guy. Not a guy that hadn’t missed any games and then had that type of wear and tear on his body for as long as he did. It’s as simple as that. He’s a refreshed player.”

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Sharks will soon make Bob Boughner their full-time coach, per report There’s no secret to how the Ducks will want to play: get in on the forecheck, soften up the Sharks defense and create turnovers.

It remains to be seen how Martin and the rest of the Sharks’ defense corps can react to that, whether they can absorb some of those hits and make the type of breakout plays that will lead to chances at the other end.

“I imagine that it’s going to be a physical series to begin with their size and the rivalry we have with them,” Martin said. “Guys know they’re going to want to get pucks in, get on the forecheck, try disrupt our support and our breakouts coming out of the zone.”