Matthew Schaefer became the youngest player to score an overtime goal in NHL regular-season history, finding the net at 2:06 of the extra session as the New York Islanders rallied to beat the Utah Mammoth 3-2 in Salt Lake City.
Schaefer, 70 days past his 18th birthday, broke the mark held by Sidney Crosby, who was 31 days older when he scored for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 16, 2005. The youngest NHL postseason OT scorer was Don Gallinger, who was 17 when he led the Boston Bruins to a win in the 1943 playoffs.
Mathew Barzal skated across the slot and fed Schaefer, who scored on a one-timer from the right circle to end it. The 18-year-old rookie netted his seventh goal of the season.
Emil Heineman scored in his second straight game for the Islanders, who were playing the second of back-to-back games after a 4-3 overtime win at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. David Rittich made 27 saves as New York won its fourth consecutive game.
The Islanders’ Bo Horvat had an assist to extend his point streak to eight games (six goals, six assists).
JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther scored for the Mammoth, who have lost four of the past five games (1-3-1). Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves.
New York’s Jonathan Drouin tied the game 2-2 at 13:44 of the third period when he kicked the puck toward the net and it deflected in off Utah’s Nate Schmidt. The play was ruled a kick on the ice, but after a video review the call was overturned and the goal was allowed.
Drouin has six points (two goals, five assists) in his past four games.
Heineman gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 7:13 of the first period. Tony DeAngelo’s shot from the right point deflected off Utah forward Barrett Hayton, and Heineman turned and swatted the loose puck past Vejmelka from just inside the right circle.
Peterka tied the score 1-1 at 13:02 of the first. Lawson Crouse took a cross-ice pass from John Marino and fed in front to Peterka, who tipped the puck behind Rittich.
Guenther’s goal at 18:35 during a 5-on-3 power play gave Utah a 2-1 lead. Guenther dropped the puck back to Mikhail Sergachev at the blue line and skated into the left circle, where he scored on a one-timer off the return pass.
Rittich made a great sliding save against Clayton Keller during a power play at 6:53 of the third period.
–Field Level Media
