Matthew Schaefer may be just 18.
But the New York Islanders rookie chosen No. 1 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft already is delivering plays that will likely rank among the best of his career.
The most astounding highlight so far came Tuesday night taking on the Winnipeg Jets.
The Islanders trailed by two late in the game, and they pulled their goalie.
The Jets got a breakaway with top scorer Kyle Conner, who seemed prime to slot it away and totally put the game to bed.
But there came Schaefer, skating back full tilt and then diving face first while extending his stick to somehow foil Conner.
About 30 seconds later, legs surely burning, Schaefer slotted in a goal from the point to cut the deficit in half.
Just watch this. Schaefer is there early, No. 48, and then continues to be involved in multiple aspects of the play before getting his goal:
Matthew Schaefer is incredible. Schaefer out skates Kyle Connor to prevent an empty net goal & then scores to cut the lead to one. This guy’s motor is insane. #Isles
— Jack Jablonski (@Jabs_13) January 14, 2026
13 goals goals now & still on pace to set the NHL record for most goals by a rookie D.
Pic.twitter.com/491aM7HsCi
As the post says, that's 13 goals now for Schaefer.
He has been as advertised and then some for the Islanders.
There are very few players in the NHL who could come close to doing what he did in that sequence against the Jets. The fact that he's doing it so early in his career makes it all the more impressive.
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