Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Shines in Overtime Win

LAS VEGAS — This rookie season might as well be called “The Education of Matthew Schaefer.”

There’s no doubt he has plenty to learn in the coming months, but for now, the playbook seems to be shifting.

The 18-year-old defenseman for the Islanders has already showcased his skills across both the Eastern and Western divisions.

Schaefer’s standout moment came when he fired a power-play shot from 51 feet out, hitting the back of the net with just 2:01 left in the first period. This goal propelled the Islanders ahead, setting the stage for a 4-3 overtime victory over the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.

He also assisted on Matthew Barzal’s goal with 2:37 remaining in the third period, which tied the game at 3 after the Golden Knights had taken a brief 3-2 lead.

The winning goal in overtime was scored by J.G. Pageau.

With this performance, Schaefer has surpassed Ivan Demidov to become the NHL’s newest player with 14 points. He’s tied with Cale Makar, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, for the highest points by a defenseman, tallying six.

Schaefer also made his mark with four power-play goals in his initial 17 NHL games, matching Brian Trottier as the only Islanders player to achieve this.

Islanders coach Patrick Roy made his first challenge of the season over a play in which he argued Kyle Palmieri was pushed by Ilya Sorokin and that Riley Smith’s stick sent the puck into an open net. However, the challenge didn’t go as planned.

The Islanders were penalized afterward, and Barzal capitalized in a 6-on-5 situation with Sorokin off the ice.

Despite arriving in Las Vegas a day ahead and slipping on the rink twice, the Islanders started slowly, surrendering their first five shots until Kyle Palmieri finally challenged the goalie about 10:42 into the game.

Interestingly, the Islanders got on the scoreboard amidst some chaos. Ilya Sorokin lost the butt of his stick, which is roughly 1.5 feet long, and during Las Vegas’ next rush, Mitch Marner hit the left post on a 2-on-1 opportunity.

On their end, Tony DeAngelo’s backhand pass from the blue-line set up Emil Heinemann, whose shot deflected off a defender and went past Schmidt, a former Devil.

The first half of the game showcased Sorokin’s skills against the Golden Knights as the Islanders managed to win both games against them, with Sorokin blocking 63 of 64 shots.

Things became tense midway through the second period when the Islanders had too many players on the ice. Sorokin was impressive, stopping four shots in quick succession, including two close chances from Jack Eichel, and benefited as Tomas Hertl’s chip hit the post.

The Islanders received a power play after Casey Cizikas argued successfully that Jeremy Lauzon’s clearing attempt went off the glass, causing a delay of game.

After that power play fizzled out, both teams exchanged scoring opportunities, and on a fourth-and-four situation, Schaefer skillfully navigated around three Golden Knights, though his shot was ultimately saved by Schmidt.

The Islanders’ momentum took a hit when Shea Theodore managed to bypass all five defenders, slipping the puck past Sorokin with just 1:04 left in the second period. Schaefer could probably take notes on that move.

As the play unfolded, Theodore’s stick appeared to press against Sorokin’s pads just as the puck was about to cross the goal line. Roy chose not to challenge the goal ruling, perhaps to avoid risking a penalty if it was overturned.