<p>Matthew Schaefer is barely 18, but the 2025 No. 1 overall pick is making a habit of making history. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">The New York Islanders’</a> rookie defenseman became the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal, giving the Islanders a 3-2 OT win against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/utah-mammoth/line-combinations">Utah Mammoth</a>.</p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per <a href="https://twitter.com/SNstats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNstats</a>…this makes Schaefer (18 years, 70 days) youngest ever to score an overtime goal</p>
<p>Previous: Sidney Crosby (18 years, 101 days) <a href="https://t.co/mjbePARpV4">https://t.co/mjbePARpV4</a></p>
<p>— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1989558576755442121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>Schaefer finished the night with a goal and two shot in 25:49 of ice time. </p>



<p>The 18-year-old now has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, averaging 22:26 of ice time through 18 games in 2025-26. He leads all NHL blueliners in goals and is tied for fourth in points. </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="134"></div>



<p>Earlier this year, Schaefer became <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-york-islanders-matthew-schaefer-2025-first-overall-pick-scores-first-nhl-goal">the second-youngest defenseman</a> to score a goal at 18 years, one month and six days. </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.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Daily Faceoff</em>&nbsp;prospect analyst&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/authors/stevenellis">Steven Ellis</a>&nbsp;wrote this about Schaefer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-draft-profile-matthew-schaefer-scouting-report-erie-otters-islanders-blackhawks">last June</a>:&nbsp;</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="146"></div>



<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/standings">The Islanders are 10-6-2 with 22 points</a>, fourth in the Metropolitan Division. Their next game is Sunday in Denver against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations">Colorado Avalanche</a>. </p>



<p>On Friday’s episode of&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfU56HZRlT4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Faceoff LIVE</a></em>, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton were joined by Arthur Staple of&nbsp;<em>The Athletic</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/matthew-schaefers-success-new-york-islanders-rebuild-nhl">to discuss Schaefer’s start</a> and what it means for New York’s bigger-picture outlook.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…</p>


<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SfU56HZRlT4?si=o5HJ0UKxxHFARugB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
