Matthew Schaefer gifts Islanders morale-boosting…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — This was the type of win to make believers of the Islanders.
More because of how the schedule broke than any other purpose, the highway journey that ended right here Thursday night time was the first time all season they’d the prospect to take a look at themselves as a visiting staff against bona fide Stanley Cup contenders.
While Sunday’s recreation in Dallas didn’t go according to plan, they matched the Wild blow-for-blow. The 4-3 additional time victory that got here from it’s simply the best the Islanders have had during the season’s first month, even if Matt Boldy’s tying purpose with under 4 minutes to go had them sweating before Matthew Schaefer received it.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer celebrates his purpose against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Saint Paul, Minn. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
They had been never overwhelmed by Minnesota’s velocity. They protected the center of the ice in their own zone and performed sensible, bodily hockey for 60 minutes. It didn’t fairly keep the Wild’s cadre of superstars quiet, but definitely it saved them from taking over the sport. Handing Minnesota its first loss of the season on home ice, plus incomes their first win after giving up the first purpose, are two achievements on which the Islanders can dangle their hats.
So, too, is that this recreation was performed largely on the Islanders’ phrases. There wasn’t a lot space to work with for either staff, and rush possibilities had been few and far between. That’s precisely the surroundings Pete DeBoer’s squad has thrived in so far, and it wasn’t too different right here.
They entered the third period tied 2-2 but with a large 8-3 edge on high-danger possibilities at five-on-five — an indication of how effectively the Islanders defended even with Ryan Pulock accomplished for the night time with an upper-body injury after enjoying just two shifts and 51 seconds.
The likelihood to retake the lead got here after the Islanders killed off their third penalty of the night time. After Victor Eklund received a puck battle along the boards, it floated to Adam Pelech in space, and the defenseman’s shot hit Michael McCarron in the leg before getting past Jesper Wallstedt, the change in direction seemingly catching the netminder out.
There was still loads of recreation left from there, with the purpose coming 7:14 into the third, and an Islanders protection that had been stout all night time began to finally show some put on late in the sport. Boldy tied it on the push with 3:53 to go after a couple of poor shifts in a row put the Islanders on their heels.
It salvaged the Wild a level, but in their fourth strive this season, the Islanders received a recreation in the additional period. This time, it didn’t even take Schaefer logging a five-minute shift.
New York Islanders gamers have fun a purpose against the Minnesota Wild in Saint Paul, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
He did, however, web the winner — placing in a two-on-one likelihood off the push.
The only development about which the Islanders is likely to be quietly frightened is that of Ilya Sorokin. In his first start after letting in six objectives against the Stars — a efficiency that may simply be called both an outlier and a product of poor protection — the goaltender let in three softies.
First, just 27 seconds into the sport, Joel Eriksson Ek beat him clean from 41 ft out. Then, late in the second period, Quinn Hughes lifted a sharp-angle backhand past Sorokin’s pads to tie the sport at two. Even Boldy’s tying purpose was one Sorokin in all probability ought to have had.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Kiersted (26) skates with the puck as New York Islanders heart Kyle MacLean defends, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. AP Photo/Abbie Parr
In between, the Islanders largely had the better of their opposition.
While Minnesota’s top line of Eriksson Ek centering Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov performed up ice, and Hughes acquired loads of zone time, the Islanders did a good job defending the center, and of producing when that foursome was off the ice. Their penalty kill also acquitted itself effectively, going 3-for-3.
Schaefer scored a purpose and put up a secondary help to equal Hughes’ output on the night time, leaping on Emil Heineman’s rebound late in the first to tie the sport at one.
At 1:41 of the second, Simon Holmstrom threaded a terrific backdoor cross to Bo Horvat for a deflection that gave the Islanders a short-term 2-1 lead.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt defends his purpose while Olli Maatta journeys New York Islanders’ Kyle Palmieri on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Saint Paul. NHLI via Getty Images
Ahead of what guarantees to be a powerful homestand, with the Oilers, Hurricanes and Devils all coming to UBS Arena, Thursday appeared like proof optimistic that when the Islanders have it going, they’ll dangle with the league’s best.
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