Schaefer, #1 Draft Pick, scores his first NHL goal, but Isles lose

Schaefer Scores His First NHL Goal in an Exciting Game

The young defenseman Matthew Schaefer will never forget his first goal in the NHL. The 18-year-old player, selected as the first overall pick in this year’s draft, went all out to score a memorable goal. Schaefer took advantage of a loose puck after a confusing play in front of the net and dove to push it in, beating Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson at 4:28 of the third period. The goal, although it came in the Islanders’ 4-2 loss on Saturday night, marked a milestone in his career.

It’s incredible, I love these fans. Hearing your name chanted is amazing, it feels like home. We want to win for the fans, they are there every night for us. We will keep working to achieve it.

Matthew Schaefer

Although the goal reduced Washington’s lead to two, the Islanders couldn’t come back and fell to 0-2 on the season. However, the moment was significant for the rookie, who managed to make the team after training camp, months after being selected in the draft.

Honestly, he dominated the game. He was our best player tonight. He was moving, contributing. He’s very effective on the court. He feels more comfortable in each game. He’s a special player, we’re lucky to have him.

Bo Horvat, Islanders player

Schaefer’s performance has earned the full confidence of the coaching staff. After getting an assist for his first point in the NHL and playing 17:15 minutes in the Islanders’ 4-3 opening loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday, he played 26:04 minutes in this game, the highest time of the game.

I’m not balancing anything with the way he’s playing. He forced me to put him in, he forced us to put him in, so we’ll give him ice time.

Patrick Roy, Islanders coach

Schaefer, with little recent experience in the game, played only 17 games for Erie of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, missing time due to mononucleosis and a broken collarbone. Despite this, he managed 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and a +21 rating. The player was also captain of Canada, winning gold medals at the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. With only 18 years old and already on the NHL ice, his first goal offers a glimpse of why the Islanders expect great things from this young man in the coming years.