NEW YORK — Matthew Schaefer added one other milestone to his quick begin with the New York Islanders on Sunday.
Schaefer had two objectives in a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Schaefer, who turned 18 on Sept. 5, grew to become the youngest defenseman in NHL historical past with a multigoal sport, transferring in entrance of Corridor of Famer Bobby Orr (18 years, 248 days on Nov. 23, 1966).
Schaefer, the No. 1 choose on this 12 months’s NHL draft, has 5 objectives and 5 assists in his first 12 video games with New York.
“It has been enjoyable to observe. He’s nice skater. He’s tremendous poised,” Islanders teammate Simon Holmstrom stated. “He was in a position to rating two huge objectives for us tonight.”
Schaefer scored a power-play aim when he transformed a booming shot 5:53 into the primary interval. He tied it at 2 with 1:07 left within the third, and Holmstrom tapped a free puck previous goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for the profitable rating with 38 seconds left.
“Oh wow, it’s enjoyable hockey to play and enjoyable hockey to observe,” Schaefer stated after the victory. “A few huge objectives within the final minute.”
Schaefer once more heard his identify chanted by the house crowd at UBS Area. It was an identical scene when he scored his first NHL aim through the Islanders’ residence opener on Oct. 11.
“That was a giant shift. That’s what occurs once you put pucks on web,” Schaefer stated of his tying aim. “A giant grind out of the blokes.”
Schaefer grew to become the third-youngest participant within the NHL’s growth period, for the reason that 1967-68 season, to file two objectives in a sport. Solely Jordan Staal (18 years, 41 days on Oct. 21, 2006) and Pierre Turgeon (18 years, 54 days on Oct. 21, 1987) achieved the feat at a youthful age.
Schaefer performed junior hockey final season for the Erie Otters. Now he’s manning the purpose on New York’s energy play, recurrently logging main minutes and contributing properly past the scoresheet.
He’s fast to deflect reward, crediting Islanders captain Anders Lee with efficiently impeding the view of Merzlikins on the tying aim.
“Teammates, I simply must depend on them,” Schaefer stated. “I don’t suppose that’s moving into if Leezy just isn’t there screening the goalie. I don’t suppose he actually noticed a lot.”
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