Islander Rookie Breaks Record in Tough Loss

BUFFALO — The Islanders faced a setback with a 4-3 loss against the Sabres, but rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer still made headlines on Tuesday night. This is a season that will undeniably be remembered as Schaefer’s debut.

In the match, Schaefer, who assisted on Anders Lee’s goal in the third period, finished the season with 57 points, setting a new record for the Islanders. He’s now the all-time leading scorer for a rookie defenseman, surpassing Stefan Persson from the 1977-78 season. Although he’s just one point short of the NHL record for an 18-year-old defenseman held by Phil Housley, Schaefer has been doing well lately, tallying 20 points—seven of which are goals—in his last 20 games.

When asked about breaking the record, Schaefer shrugged it off saying, “But, I mean, I don’t really care. Obviously, it’s pretty awesome and there’s a lot of great players who have been through this organization. I scored so many points, but at the end of the day, we’re in the playoffs now and this was a big game.”

As the game progressed, Schaefer expressed concern about being on the ice for the Sabres’ winning goal. He mentioned a play where Alex Tucci intercepted near the net and set up Peyton Krebs. “So if it’s not decided, it’s still a tied game,” he reflected while recalling the moment when the puck slipped past him.

This snapshot marked the end of a notable night for him.

Meanwhile, the Islanders had to adapt without key players. Simon Holmstrom sat out due to an upper-body injury, leaving the team without a consistent offensive contributor. This led to Anthony Duclair stepping back into the lineup after a prolonged absence. Skating on a line with Mathieu Barzal and Brayden Schenn, Duclair clocked 11 minutes and 29 seconds on the ice but didn’t manage to take a shot. Holmstrom had notably made an impact with 19 goals and 30 points this season prior to his injury.

Head coach Patrick Roy noted Duclair’s previous chemistry with Barzal, emphasizing their successful connection earlier in the season, when Duclair had impressive scoring in January. Yet, he has struggled recently, which is why Roy was keen to see if that synergy could be reignited.

Roy also commented on a fight between Lee and Sam Carrick, suggesting it wasn’t justified. Carrick stayed on the ice with an apparent shoulder injury before leaving with a trainer, with Roy stating, “I think it was a very good no-call. Personally, I don’t think that fight was necessary, but… it looked good.”

In other news, the AHL Board of Directors has unanimously approved the relocation of the Islanders’ minor league affiliate, Bridgeport, to Hamilton, Ontario, set to take place in the 2026-27 season.