NEW YORK (AP) — When Bobby Orr's name came up after passing him in the record books, Matthew Schaefer flashed a big grin.
“Who's that?” he asked jokingly.
Schaefer knows very well who Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin and Phil Housley are, and the new face of the New York Islanders is producing just like those Hall of Famers. Scoring his 14th goal in a 2-1 victory at the Rangers on Thursday night, Schaefer broke a tie with Orr for the second-most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history and moved three back of Housley for first.
Seven months since getting taken first in the draft, Schaefer is now also three behind Potvin's franchise record for the most goals by a rookie defenseman.
“Saying all those names, it’s crazy because they’re going to go down as some of the best defensemen to ever play," Schaefer said. “Obviously Potvin playing for the Islanders is pretty cool. Everyone knows him. He’s created a great legacy with the Islanders and everything. You don’t really think about it that much, but when those names pop up and you hear those names, it’s an honor to be with those guys.”
Coach Patrick Roy, himself a Hall of Fame goaltender, invoked a fourth defenseman who's enshrined when asked about Schaefer's shot.
“It reminds me of the wrister by Ray Bourque,” Roy said of a former teammate with whom he won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. "Ray always kept it just above the pad and that was his thing. Schaef, now he seems to do the same thing as Ray.”
Schaefer has 36 points and is the front-runner for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, excelling at a position that typically requires a lengthy learning curve for even some of the best. Victor Hedman, for example, took until his fifth season in the league before he cracked the 30-point mark.
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New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) skates past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer smiles after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Staal's goal with 29.4 seconds left gave the Carolina Hurricanes three goals in the final two minutes for a 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes became the first NHL team in more than 30 years and third overall to rally from two goals down in the last two minutes to win in regulation. The others were the Dallas Stars against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 14, 1995, and the Montreal Maroons against the New York Rangers on March 15, 1932.
Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two goals and an assist for the Hurricanes, who stretched their points streak to six games. Brandon Bussi stopped 21 shots to become the first NHL goalie with 20 wins in his first 24 games.
Utah’s Kailer Yamamoto scored two goals for the first time in more than two years and added an assist. JJ Peterka and Michael Carcone also scored for the Mammoth, who concluded a 2-2-0 trip in their last road game until March. Jack McBain had two assists and Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves.
Svechnikov scored on a power play with the goalie pulled with 1:59 left, giving him eight goals in a six-game stretch. Just 32 seconds later, Gostisbehere, who had missed the previous five games with an injury, got the Hurricanes even.
The Mammoth lost for the second time in eight games.
Peterka responded 19 seconds after Carolina’s second-period goal and the Mammoth led until the final minutes.
Svechnikov opened the scoring 3:04 into the game.
Yamamoto’s second goal of the trip, after getting scratched for four games, came 4:10 into the second. He gave the Mammoth the lead for the first time at 8:24 of the second by sending a rebound into an open net.
The Hurricanes converted on their third power-play opportunity of the second period when Gostisbehere blasted a shot from inside the blue line.
Vejmelka has lost two games in a row for the first time since Dec. 8-10.
Mammoth: Host Dallas on Saturday to begin a string of six straight home games
Hurricanes: At Washington on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal, third from right, celebrates after his winning goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes players celebrate after the winning goal by Jordan Staal with Utah Mammoth's Jack McBain (22) nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) watches the puck controlled by Utah Mammoth's Daniil But (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin (74) prepares to bat the puck with Hurricanes' goaltender Brandon Bussi, front right, and Utah Mammoth Clayton Keller (9) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall (71) watches the puck with Utah Mammoth's Nate Schmidt (88) nearby during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook (48) leaps out of the way of the puck in front of Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelkab (70) with John Marino (6) and Nate Schmidt (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
