Matthew Schaefer scored two roof-raising goals in Saturday night\u2019s win despite feeling unwell with what at least one report said was the flu. As he missed Monday\u2019s practice and was listed \u201cday to day (illness),\u201d I\u2019m struck that I\u2019m not so much concerned that the Isles are less likely to win with him out of the lineup as I am concerned that Islanders games are much less fun to watch without him.<\/p>\n
I think that\u2019s what\u2019s so fun about this season, whichever way it leads (and I\u2019m still not feeling like it leads to playoffs, current standings be damned): Matthew Schaefer is just plain fun to watch. He logs a lot of minutes as a defenseman; he wows with his break-the-mold approach that only a handful of defensemen at any age can do and get away with in the NHL; and of course his personality, approach and maturity is not what you expect from an 18-year-old superstar-in-the-making.<\/p>\n
So anyway, Schaefer is a gameday decision for tonight\u2019s meeting with the Devils. This is the final game before a very, very long trip.<\/p>\n