Matthew Schaefer’s Road Trip Adventure
LAS VEGAS — Matthew Schaefer’s exciting road trip is set for five stops:
- Thursday: Las Vegas
- Friday: Salt Lake City
- Sunday: Denver
- Tuesday: Dallas
- Thursday: Detroit
This 18-year-old defenseman from Hamilton, Ontario, was the first pick in the Islanders’ recent draft and he’s making quite an impression in his rookie season.
What stands out about Schaefer, though, is his straightforward attitude regarding this week’s games.
“Just playing cards on the plane and hanging out with the guys is fun,” he mentioned after the Islanders’ practice at T-Mobile Arena. “It’s nice to be with my so-called family here. We’re close, and it’s a great time to go on a trip like this and really go for a win.”
The Islanders kicked off their road trip with a 5-0 victory over the Rangers, followed by a 3-2 overtime win against the Devils. Now, they’re facing some players who might challenge Schaefer’s fun.
Among the players to watch are Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Pavel Dorofevy—though Schaefer didn’t seem too fazed by the competition.
“It’s going to be an interesting game. They’re a solid team, but we’ve got our strengths too,” he said. “We’re focused on a couple of key things and want to keep progressing.”
Even though the regular season runs through mid-April and Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, these coming games are crucial. As Wednesday’s matches kicked off across North America, just one point separated teams ranked seventh to fifteenth in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders currently sit at 18 points but are below the tiebreaker line.
When asked about the chances of climbing the standings, head coach Patrick Roy emphasized the importance of staying positive and winning games. “This road trip is key for us,” he said.
Roy announced that rising star Ilya Sorokin will be in goal against the Golden Knights, while David Rittich will be called up for the game against the Mammoths later. Last year, the Islanders were 2-0 against Vegas, with Sorokin making a stunning 63 saves on 64 shots.
“I’m not looking back at last year. It’s all about this season,” Roy asserted. “We need to keep building on what’s been working.”
“Defensively, I think we’re doing well. We’re limiting five-on-five chances, and our penalty kill has been impressive against top teams. When called upon, Ilya has stepped up for us,” he added.
In practice, forward Max Shabanov was seen wearing a non-contact jersey. It was his first appearance with the team since an injury kept him sidelined following a game against the Sharks on October 21. While details of his injury remain vague, it was serious enough to sideline him after the match against the Senators.
“It was great for him to be back on the ice with the team. Very encouraging,” Roy noted.
The forward lineup remains unchanged from the game against the Devils, but the defensive setup saw some adjustments due to Scott Mayfield’s absence. Mayfield is currently supporting his wife, Emily, who is expecting their first child. If he’s unable to play on Thursday, Adam Boqvist will step in alongside Alexander Romanov.
