Matthew Schaefer is pretty good, eh?
The Islanders rookie sensation scratched his name into the NHL record books once again on Friday night, helping push the team past the Utah Mammoth for their third consecutive OT win.
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Schaefer’s one-timer found the back of the net off a feed from Mathew Barzal just over two minutes into the extra session, completing the comeback and securing the big second point.
“It was awesome,” Schaefer said. “Some great hockey-sense from Barry to find me, it’s pretty easy when I can just try to put it on net there and it went in — definitely a hard fought game and another good win for us.”
The 18-year-old passed Penguins star and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby as the youngster player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in the regular season.
He now leads all defensemen with seven goals and is tied for fourth in points (15).
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“He’s a great player, really just unbelievable,” backup goalie David Rittich said. “18 years old and playing that way with that much confidence out there, I think it tells you everything you need to know about him.”
While Schaefer came through in the end, he did give the Islanders a scare midway through.
The youngster imped to the bench after taking an open-ice hit from Utah’s Kevin Stenlund during the second period, then was hobbled after blocking a shot in the third.
He met with trainers, but was able to return each time without missing a shift.
“I’m still feeling it,” Schaefer said. “It’s something that stings and then you’ve just got to suck it up — definitely not leaving the game. We have an off day Saturday, going to be icing my legs to get ready for the next game.”
