Islanders rookie Schaefer becomes first teen to win three NHL games in overtime

Matthew Schaefer, 19, scored the only goal of the extra period to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday at Grand Casino Arena. The victory marked a historic achievement for the rookie defenseman, who became the first teenager in NHL history to record three overtime-winning goals in a single season.

Schaefer finished the game with two goals and one assist. His performance was comparable to that of established stars like Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Zach Werenski, who were all 19 years old when they began their professional careers. Schaefer was selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft after a productive major junior career.

The Wild wore throwback jerseys featuring the colors and design of the 1981 Minnesota North Stars team during the contest. The Islanders wore their standard blue and orange uniforms, a style reminiscent of the New York Islanders who defeated the North Stars in the 1981 Stanley Cup Final. The Islanders won that series in five games to claim their second consecutive championship.

Wild forward Matt Boldy acknowledged the difficulty of containing Schaefer. He noted that the team did not do enough to slow the young defenseman down. Boldy stated that Schaefer plays with the composure of a veteran who has been in the league for 10 or 15 years. He added that the future looks bright for the Islanders player.

Wild head coach John Hynes pointed to Schaefer’s skating ability as a key factor in his success. Hynes said the defenseman has the size to handle physical play but relies on elite skating to retain possession at the offensive blue line. Hynes compared Schaefer’s skill set to that of top offensive defensemen in the current league.

Schaefer’s path to the NHL included a difficult season two years ago, when mononucleosis and a broken collarbone limited him to 17 games. That brief sample was sufficient for the Islanders to select him with the first pick in the draft. In his rookie season, he recorded 23 goals and 59 points.

In the regulation period, Boldy tied the game 3-3 with under four minutes remaining by moving past Schaefer. Islanders coach Peter DeBoer said the third goal visibly upset Schaefer. DeBoer noted that Schaefer wanted to make amends immediately, even before overtime began. He described the competitive edge Schaefer displays as a rare trait.

The overtime goal was scored quickly, with the red lights behind Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt illuminating before many fans realized the game had ended. Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes commented on Schaefer’s potential. Hughes said that at 19, this performance is just the beginning. He projected that Schaefer could become a top-five player in the league by his mid-20s.

The Islanders will face the Wild only two more times this regular season. Schaefer’s rapid development has already placed him among the elite young players in the league, matching the early trajectories of other top draft picks from recent years.