He raised his arms and leaped into the glass, much to the delight of the 17,255 in attendance who were watching the next face of the franchise playing a regular-season game in their barn for the first time. Schaefer had an assist in his NHL debut on Thursday, a 4-3 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Capitals challenged Schaefer’s goal for a hand pass, but the call on the ice stood after video review determined the puck had gone off the arm of Islanders center Bo Horvat.
Chants of “Matthew Schaefer” ensued.
“I thought we just had so much momentum and I just wanted to keep going,” Schaefer said. “[The review] takes a toll for sure. The fans are in it and there’s a big, lengthy timeout. … But they made the right call for sure.”
Thompson didn’t agree. However, there was no argument from the Capitals’ side about how special Schaefer could be in this League for a long time.
"Yeah, me and [Washington defenseman John Carlson] thought it was a hand pass, so that was on me for telling [coach Spencer Carbery] to challenge it,” Thompson said. “Unfortunately, I guess it wasn't seen that way. That's hockey.
“But credit to him for driving the paint when it got a little rough. He's an exciting player and I'm excited to watch him."
Schaefer only turned 18 on Sept. 5 and is beginning adulthood without his mother, Jennifer, who died of breast cancer in February 2024, two months after his billet mother, Emily Matson, died in an apparent suicide while he was playing his first junior season with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.
Fortunately, there are several longtime veterans in his new locker room he can lean on to discuss life on or off the ice, including one who also experienced loss as a teenager.
Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock was 15 when his younger brother, Brock, was killed in a car accident while they were on their way to watch their older brother Derrick’s hockey game on March 29, 2010. Brock was 13.
Ryan was also in the car but escaped serious injury.
“We actually had a conversation the other night,” Pulock said. “It’s crazy how well he handles himself, you know? He’s been through a lot. What I went through was a little different, but [also] kind of similar. It changes your life.
“Just the way he carries himself, the way he talks about [his mother] and handles it, he’s very impressive. That’s really all I can about it is how impressive he is. He’s battled through it and really just carrying on with obviously his mom in his thoughts. It takes a lot of strength; to be able to power through that and perform the way he’s performed … it’s very special. Nothing really fazes him. He’s got confidence in his game. Off the ice, he’s mature, he’s humble. Just a good kid and a heck of a hockey player. It’s been fun having him around and it’s been fun to watch.”
So has Schaefer’s ability to already manage a heavy workload. He led all skaters on Saturday by playing 26:04, including 2:40 on the power play. He also had a game-high eight shots on goal.
