- Islanders teammates jumped in to Matthew Schaefer’s defense after the No. 1 overall pick was roughed up by Nikita Zadorov.
- Zadorov received three penalties over the incident.
- Schaefer later had an assist to give the rookie 11 points in 13 games.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer is 18, but he already has established himself as an important part of the team.
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So when Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov roughed up the 2025 No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday, Nov. 4, his teammates jumped in to his defense.
Zadorov was called for interference against Schaefer in the second period. When the Islanders rookie got up to his knees, Zadorov objected to his stick being held and delivered a shot to Schaefer’s face.
As Schaefer fell, Islanders players went after Zadorov.
“I just caught the end of it there,” forward Anthony Duclair told reporters. “I see Big Z towering over him. Obviously you want to protect your teammate, especially Schaefs.”
When the scrum ended, Zadorov received three penalties (interference and roughing against Schaefer and Anders Lee). Lee and Duclair were called for roughing Zadorov.
“We’re a family in here,” Schaefer told reporters. “I love these guys. I know they always have my back and I will always have their back.”
Said Islanders coach Patrick Roy: “The reaction of our guys, I mean, that’s what you’re looking for. They’re a tight group, they back each other and I am proud of them for that.”
Schaefer, the NHL rookie of the month for October, showed his value in the third period when he came out of the penalty box and assisted on a goal by Bo Horvat.
He had points in his first six NHL games and a two-goal game on Nov. 2. He has 11 points in 13 games.
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