Schaefer Starts The Second Half With A Bang
The rookie phenom put his team on his back, willing them to victory in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
ELMONT, NY — Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And for the New York Islanders on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, that will came in the form of No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer.
Here’s the sights and sounds from a magical game at UBS Arena on this Free Sunday edition of The Elmonters:
Down 2-1 in the third period, the 18-year-old phenom mimicked Auston Matthews’ first goal of the game, going coast-to-coast before cutting across the crease for a nifty finish:
"My dad always tells me to drive the net there and beat him wide, instead of trying to dipsey-doodle in the middle and getting the puck taken off me. So, definitely had speed there and was able to go around.” — Matthew Schaefer
Then, after the Islanders’ forced overtime, Schaefer sent UBS Arena into a frenzy with 48.1 seconds to play:
“That second one was all Barzal. I forget who passed it up to Barzal, but it was basically all Barzal. He drew the man, and then he passed it right to me. I was right down mainway. It was all Barzal.” — Schaefer
Battling Through the Flu
Following the game, we learned that Schaefer was dealing with the flu — and still powered through.
Schaefer: “You don’t have the same energy as you would on a regular night. I mean, I feel like, from the start of the day to when I went in the game, the fans gave me that energy back that I needed. You can’t control what obstacles get thrown your way. You just have to play the game.”
‘Moms Are the Strongest People Around’
Schaefer also credited his mom for helping him push through a difficult night.
Schaefer: “When you’re not feeling at your best, I know my mom’s always got my back, no matter what. She’s a strong woman, and she did a lot of things in life for me, my brother, and she was a big role model for me. I wish I was as strong as her, but I will never be, because moms are the strongest people around. She definitely gave me a little bit of that strength tonight.”
The Cross-Check & Catching His Breath
With 11:48 remaining in the third period, Maple Leafs forward Max Domi cross-checked Schaefer in the ribs, forcing the 18-year-old to briefly head down the Islanders’ tunnel to regroup.
Schaefer: “I got a shot to the ribs there. And, I mean, I’m 18, and sometimes I feel like it’s broken when it’s really just a little soft touch, so I gotta get a little tougher there. But, I think I just lost my wind, and just need a couple of seconds to regroup.”
What Schaefer’s Teammates Said
Matthew Barzal: “That was awesome to see him, big moment. The game wasn’t really going our way. I think me and Schaef probably could say that we could use a little more. But, that’s a big moment.”
Emil Heineman: “He’s a difference maker. He brings us back into the game. So, I mean, both goals are huge, obviously. So lucky to have him. He’s great out there, and he eats a lot of minutes too.”
Cole McWard: “It was so cool to be a part of. Schaef has two goals here, and everyone was fighting for that win. You could tell we weren’t quitting on that game. And it’s good to see that all that hard work paid off in the end.”
Patrick Roy On His Rookie Defenseman
Patrick Roy: “He put on a show in that third period. He’s a game changer. He scores the tying goal and the overtime goal […] He was really good defensively. What stands out is how he moves the puck up. That’s what we saw. We needed it at the time because we were down by one goal and he was jumping in on the rush. It was impressive. He put on a pretty good show.”
Leafs Took Notice
John Tavares: “You can see why he’s been highly touted. Has special talents, and unfortunately, we gave him a little bit too much room in the third and overtime. He’s proven already to be one of the best defensemen in the league.”
Auston Matthews: “He’s obviously the real deal... This is our first time playing against him. So you definitely get an up-front, close view of just his speed and the size and the pace that he plays with. He’s a great player. He’s going to be a really, really good player here in this league for a long time.”
Pretty freaking DUSGUSTED that in addition to the non call on POS domi for the cross checked to the ribs, that NO ONE IN THE TEAM did anything retaliatory towards domi at the time or for the rest of the game!!!! Nothing!!! Pathetic. If he gets hurt in the future, don't be surprised if he were to ask Darsche to trade him. As it gets closer to when he'll sign his first BIG CONTRACT, that's when the bomb could drop. Family might advise him that the team is soft & weak & he should go somewhere else. I wouldn't shock me.