WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Islanders had been relieved to see Matthew Schaefer return to Tuesday’s sport not as soon as however twice after damage scares, however the 18-year-old defenseman is just not utterly out of the woods.
Schaefer wanted to be examined by staff medical doctors after the 5-4 loss to the Jets in relation to the shot he took off his proper leg within the second interval, regardless of ending the sport.
It was for that purpose he wasn’t made accessible to reporters postgame.
The 18-year-old didn’t go to the dressing room after consuming Luke Schenn’s slap shot at 15:41 of the second, however might barely transfer for the rest of the shift.
Play was in the end blown lifeless as a result of he was struggling, which left the Jets none too blissful as they had been buzzing across the offensive zone with the Islanders successfully all the way down to 4 ½ males.
Schaefer limped to the bench, examined his leg through the subsequent stoppage in play then took his subsequent shift through the penalty kill.
He completed the night time with 22:39 of ice time regardless of lacking 12:22 of motion within the first interval after being taken off by the concussion spotter and cleared, however would hardly be the primary participant to complete a sport off adrenaline.
“He was superb,” coach Patrick Roy stated. “I feel he simply misplaced his wind on that [first] play. I assume they thought that was an incidental contact with [Josh] Morrissey into the top. I feel that’s the protocol from the league, however he was one hundred pc superb.”
Morrissey, who went into Schaefer’s chest prompting the spotter to take him off, went over to ask if he was OK after he returned.
The Islanders are already with out Alexander Romanov on their blue line, and Schaefer might be the participant they may least afford to lose.
That’s each for hockey causes — they don’t have another participant who can do what Schaefer does — and psychological causes, given the affect the 18-year-old has had on the staff.
The Islanders subsequent play Thursday in Edmonton.
Adam Boqvist stayed within the lineup for a second straight sport, the primary time since November that he’s performed consecutive video games.
Ryan Pulock’s secondary help tied him with Noah Dobson for the fifth-most factors in historical past by an Islanders defenseman.
