Another game, another record-breaking night for NY Islanders D Matthew Schaefer

It’s getting hard to keep track of all the milestones Matthew Schaefer is smashing these days. On Friday night, the 18-year-old rookie defenseman added another to the growing list, becoming the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal when he buried the game-winner for the New York Islanders in their 3-2 win over the Utah Mammoth.

At 18 years and 70 days old, Schaefer broke a record previously held by Sidney Crosby, who scored his first OT goal at 18 years and 101 days back on Nov. 16, 2005. It’s yet another sign of the company Schaefer now keeps and the impact he’s already making on the league.

For added historical context, the only player younger to ever score an OT goal in any NHL game was Don Gallinger, who did so at 17 years, 339 days - but that came way back in 1943, during the playoffs with the Boston Bruins.

Schaefer’s latest achievement didn’t stop there. The Islanders’ No. 1 overall pick also became the third-youngest player in the past 80 years to score in consecutive games, joining elite names like Jordan Staal (18 years, 44 days) and Pierre Turgeon (18 years, 68 days). Even more impressive, Schaefer is now the youngest defenseman in NHL history to accomplish the feat.

From the moment he stepped on NHL ice, Schaefer’s confidence and poise have been undeniable. Whether he’s leading a rush in transition, quarterbacking the power play, or sealing a win in overtime, the kid plays with the calm of a veteran and the flair of a superstar.

The Islanders knew they were drafting a franchise cornerstone, but even they couldn’t have imagined just how quickly Matthew Schaefer would start rewriting the record books.

What record will he break next?