Matthew Schaefer scored two highlight reel goals, including a tying goal and an overtime winner, as the Islanders came back and beat the Maple Leafs, 4-3, Saturday night on Long Island.<\/p>\n
Rumors of Auston Matthews\u2019 demise have been greatly exaggerated, as the maligned Maple Leafs captain continued his tear with two goals*, but the Islanders\u2019 own #1 overall pick of a decade later matched him goal for goal.<\/p>\n
*Interestingly, the Leafs emptied the bench for his second goal, as it moved him past Mats Sundin into first place all-time among Maple Leaf goal scorers. It seems the bar for stop-the-game-and-empty-the-bench** activities, even on the road, gets ever lower.<\/p>\n
Barzal\u2019s two assists, including a spinaround turn that drew away both defenders on Schaeffer\u2019s winner, moved him past John Tavares to fifth on the Islanders all-time assist leaderboard. **The Islanders promptly emptied the bench after the that one, but that\u2019s because they had won the game.<\/p>\n
The OT bonus point nearly went the other way when Simon Holmstrom, stretching to prevent a Matthews hat trick and game-ender, knocked down a low-slot pass out of the air and off the post behind David Rittich. Thankfully, the script makers had a different narrative in mind tonight.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the Islanders were not in position to take even one point until Emil Heineman tied it at 3-3 with under three minutes to go, a one-timer off a swift pass from Barzal.<\/p>\n
The Isles entered the third period trailing 2-1 and that score stood at the halfway mark when Schaefer scored a stunning goal, knifing through and around the entire Leafs\u2019 defense, then completing it with a move that mirrored Matthews\u2019 first goal.<\/p>\n
This was, simply, beautiful:<\/p>\n
Alas, Schaefer\u2019s first highlight did not last long. The home crowd was still singing \u201cMat-thew Schae-fer\u201d when the Isles third pairing \u2014 more on them later \u2014 was victimized again, yielding an open look for Nicholas Robertson.<\/p>\n
That was frustrating and deflating, but the Isles tied it once again before Patrick Roy could even pull Rittich for a sixth attacker. Heineman\u2019s goal allowed him to stay ahead of Schaefer\u2019s pace\u2026at least temporarily.<\/p>\n
Mercifully, there was no more deflation in store. The teams made it to overtime and Barzal and Schaefer worked their magic to give the Isles the extra point and another highlight to remember:<\/p>\n