<p>It didn’t take long for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick to score is first-career NHL goal. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders’ </a>defenseman Matthew Schaefer took a shot from the point that led to a scramble in front of the<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/washington-capitals/line-combinations"> Washington Capitals’ </a>net, with last summer’s top pick storming the crease and forcing a loose puck past Capitals’ goaltender Logan Thompson, giving Schaefer the first goal of his professional career. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MATTHEW SCHAEFER HAS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLFaceOff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLFaceOff</a> <a href="https://t.co/zwByXMLoP2">pic.twitter.com/zwByXMLoP2</a></p>
<p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1977182712172576879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>Schaefer is now the second-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a goal at 18 years, one month and six days, according to <em>Sportsnet’s </em>stat department. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Isles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Isles</a> Matthew Schaefer (18 years, 36 days)</p>
<p>2nd youngest defenceman in NHL history to score a goal <a href="https://t.co/toV6ufV0yr">pic.twitter.com/toV6ufV0yr</a></p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>
<p>— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1977183471526346875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>Through two NHL games, Schaefer now has one goal and one assist for two points, averaging 21:40 of ice time. </p>



<p>Schaefer, a native of Hamilton, Ont., came out of junior with plenty of talent and hype, despite only playing 73 career regular-season games. In parts of two seasons, the 6-foot-2 defender posted 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points. </p>



<p><em>Daily Faceoff</em> prospect analyst <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/authors/stevenellis">Steven Ellis</a> wrote this about Schaefer <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-draft-profile-matthew-schaefer-scouting-report-erie-otters-islanders-blackhawks">last June</a>: </p>



<p>“There isn’t a better, more deceptive skater on the blueline in this draft class, with his mobility being among the best we’ve seen in recent draft classes,” Ellis wrote. “Schaefer is as good of a puck distributor as you’ll find, too … that’s partly because he thinks that game is at such an advanced level at his age, often luring opponents in before pulling off a deceptive deke and getting the puck where it needs to be.” </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="162"></div>



<p>The Islanders lost Saturday’s game against the Capitals 4-2, with Washington forward Aliaksei Protas&nbsp;finishing with a goal and an assist. </p>
