Schaefer, 18, turns into youngest defenseman with multigoal recreation

NEW YORK — Matthew Schaefer added one other milestone to his quick begin with the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Schaefer had two targets 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 recreation, shifting in entrance of Hall of Famer Bobby Orr (18 years, 248 days on Nov. 23, 1966).

Schaefer, the No. 1 decide on this yr’s NHL draft, has 5 targets and 5 assists in his first 12 video games with New York.

“It has been fun to watch. He’s great skater. He’s super poised,” Islanders teammate Simon Holmstrom stated. “He was able to score two big goals for us tonight.”

Schaefer scored a power-play objective 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 fun hockey to play and fun hockey to watch,” Schaefer stated after the victory. “A couple of big goals in the last minute.”

Schaefer once more heard his title chanted by the house crowd at UBS Arena. It was the same scene when he scored his first NHL objective in the course of the Islanders’ dwelling opener on Oct. 11.

“That was a big shift. That’s what happens when you put pucks on net,” Schaefer stated of his tying objective. “A big grind out of the guys.”

Schaefer grew to become the third-youngest participant within the NHL’s growth period, because the 1967-68 season, to document two targets in a recreation. Only 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, usually logging main minutes and contributing effectively past the scoresheet.

He is fast to deflect reward, crediting Islanders captain Anders Lee with efficiently impeding the view of Merzlikins on the tying objective.

“Teammates, I just have to rely on them,” Schaefer stated. “I don’t think that’s going in if Leezy is not there screening the goalie. I don’t think he really saw much.”