Story by
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer thanks mom for saving him vs. Maple Leafs
- Story by
- Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer thanks mom for saving him vs. Maple Leafs
Islanders' Matthew Schaefer thanks mom for saving him vs. Maple Leafs appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Thursday and got some help. They sit just one point out of the playoffs after Pete DeBoer's first game behind the bench . Late in the game, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer took a puck up high, and all fans held their breath. Schaefer says someone was watching from above, making sure the puck didn't injure him .
Advertisement
"Thank God it wasn't the face. I don't think my mom would've been too happy if I, you know, got hit in the face. So knock on wood, thank you, it didn't happen to my face. My mom was definitely blocking it there for me," Schaefer told ESPN's Kevin Weekes at the end of the game.
Schaefer's mom passed away from breast cancer in February 2024, when Schaefer was just 16 years old. He finished out his incredible junior hockey career playing for his mother, becoming the first overall pick just 16 months later.
In his first year with the Islanders, Schaefer has taken the league by storm. He scored his 23rd goal of the season, tying Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in league history . He has three games to break that record, but he missed an empty net with a chance at the record on Thursday.
Advertisement
The Islanders are one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers with three games to play. New York has only home games remaining, with the Ottawa Senators , Montreal Canadiens , and Carolina Hurricanes coming up. The Flyers visit the Winnipeg Jets before hosting the Hurricanes and Canadiens to end their season.
No matter what happens in the final three games, Schaefer has just about locked up the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. No Islanders player has won that award since 2018, when Mathew Barzal took it home.
Related: Islanders rumors: Patrick Roy may stick around team after dismissal as head coach
Related: Islanders' Matthew Schaefer ties NHL record during Maple Leafs win
