Islanders Morning Skate: Teammates Fired Up As Matthew Schaefer Prepares For NHL Debut
Here's the latest, including lines, goaltending matchups and quotes from Matthew Schaefer's teammates ahead of his big day.
PITTSBURGH, PA — Tonight is the night that No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer has been working toward.
“You dreamed of playing in the NHL one day,” Schaefer said. “The work doesn’t stop here. It’s just getting started. So, honestly, it’s like every other game. You just want to get the season going.”
When he hits the ice for his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, the fans watching in person and at home will be incredibly excited.
You know who else is excited to see No. 48 in action? His teammates and his head coach.
Bo Horvat: “I mean, I’m really excited. Obviously, you’re gonna be nervous, you’re gonna have the first game jitters. But, I think he’s handled everything with class and so well so far, ever since he’s been here. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to playing with him. I think he’s gonna be awesome. He’s got such a bright future in this league, and like Barzy has said it before, it’s been all over you can be a top 5, top 3 defenseman in this league, if he keeps playing the way he’s playing and keeps getting better. He’s exceeded my expectations. You want to make the NHL. As a kid, that’s what you dream of, and I could not be more excited for him, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Anders Lee: “He’s gonna have a great night. He’s gonna have a great season. I just think he’s progressed really well. Even in camp, he continues to get better. We were working on some things today, getting on the same page, and he can make those plays. He’s one of those guys that you tell what you’re seeing, and we’ll make that happen. At first, you’re like, you know, this kid gets it. And then, after a little bit, it’s not surprising at all. This is who he is. Matthew’s got a great head on his shoulders. I’ve been saying it for the last month, and I mean it. It’s great to see it in a young kid and his maturity, someone who’s gonna do everything he can to do the right thing.”
Kyle Palmieri: “He’s an awesome teammate. He’s proved to us how good a pro he can be. And I think for us, it’s really just about him, just enjoying the moment. I think I saw something the other day about three or four guys in his first week that he’s going up against him for a kid that age to be able to do that right away in NHL action has got to be special for him. It’s all about him enjoying himself and being the player that we all know he is, and the person that we all know he is.”
Mathew Barzal: “Yeah, I mean, like I’ve said before, he’s just got it. He’s a stud. There’s no other way to put it. He’s just got it. We’re going to have some nice plays, me and him. We’re going to get up the ice. I’m looking for him—he’s got that kind of speed, so we can get after it on the rush and in transition. I’m looking to find him out there. I trust him.”
Jonathan Drouin: “It’s his first game. Have fun with it. It only happens once. I think it’s Paul Maurice from last year who said that the first game is a family game, the friends game. And I found that pretty cool, because it’s true. All your coaches, all your friends, all your family, help you get that moment. He’ll definitely be nervous tomorrow, but I hope he enjoys it and finds a way to take it all in.”
Maxim Tsyplakov: “He’s looking like a 25-year-old, his mentality. He’s not nervous. He’s flying. He’s looking good and doing good.”
Patrick Roy: “Watch his swagger, how confident he is on the ice. For an 18-year-old playing with guys who have so much experience and see that swagger, seeing the way he moves. That’s what you want from any young player. You want to see them going and have fun with their friends and have that swagger, that confidence, that trust in themselves. The X’s and O’s are all cool, but at the end of the day, the personality, how they skate, how they handle those rushes.”
ISLANDERS LINES:
Drouin-Horvat-Heineman
Lee-Barzal-Palmieri
Shabanov-Pageau-Holmstrom
Duclair-Cizikas-Tsyplakov
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Pulock
Schaefer-Mayfield
Sorokin
Rittich
Islanders Notes
No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer will make his NHL debut tonight in Pittsburgh.
Forwards Jonathan Drouin, Emil Heineman, and Max Shabanov will also play their first games as Islanders — with Shabanov making his NHL debut after signing from the KHL this summer.
Kyle Palmieri led all Islanders in scoring against the Penguins last season with six points (2 G, 4 A) in four games. Bo Horvat wasn’t far behind, recording five points (1 G, 4 A) in those same matchups.
Anders Lee leads all active Islanders with 20 goals in 42 career games against Pittsburgh. Mathew Barzal tops the team with 17 assists in 29 meetings, while Lee and Palmieri are tied for most total points (29).
Ilya Sorokin (30-24-6, 2.71 GAA, .907 SV%) will start the season opener. He went 11-5-0 against Pittsburgh in his career and won his most recent start versus the Penguins on March 18, stopping 19 of 21 shots.
Penguins Notes
The Penguins opened their season Tuesday with a 3-0 win over the Rangers. Justin Brazeau opened the scoring late in the first, while Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter. Goaltender Arturs Silovs, acquired this offseason, stopped 25 shots for his first shutout.
It was also the first NHL win for new head coach Dan Muse, who previously worked as an assistant with the Rangers and Predators, as well as with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
Pittsburgh added Silovs, Brazeau, Anthony Mantha, and Mathew Dumba this offseason. Dumba, however, was a healthy scratch in the opener.
Sidney Crosby continues to dominate this rivalry, with 43 goals and 94 assists (137 points) in 90 career games against the Islanders.
Tristan Jarry will be between the pipes. He is 11-5-1 with a 2.50 GAA and a .920 SV% in 17 regular-season appearances against the Islanders.
