Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer ties single-season rookie defenseman goal record as historic year continues

Matthew Schaefer’s march toward history keeps on rolling.

Schaefer scored his 23rd goal of the season on Thursday night at UBS Arena to tie Brian Leetch’s single-season record for a rookie defenseman.

His shot from the left circle at 9:39 also put the Islanders up 3-2 over the Maple Leafs in a game they badly needed to win to improve their playoff chances.

Matthew Schaefer takes a first period shotas Jake McCabe defends during the Islanders’ game against the Maple Leafs at UBS Arena on April 9, 2026. Getty Images

Schaefer had been on something of a scoring drought, with his last goal back on March 21, though he did have seven assists in the seven games since then.

The UBS Arena crowd chanted Schaefer’s name for a few minutes straight after his goal on Thursday, and the scoreboard acknowledged that he’d tied Leetch’s record.

Schaefer waved to the crowd and smiled.

All year Schaeffer has maintained that individual achievements are at best secondary and more likely not on his mind at all.

But you couldn’t blame him for enjoying this moment though.