The Buffalo Sabres are set to play the New York Islanders on Saturday, and they are going to look to extend their longest win streak of the season. However, rookie phenomenon Matthew Schaefer and the Islanders are going to be standing in their way.
Schaefer was the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and made the jump to the NHL immediately and has played in every game this season. He has been a big reason for the Islanders' success this season and has averaged 23:44 of ice time with nine goals and 14 assists.
Matthew Schaefer is on pace to break Phil Housley's record set with the Buffalo Sabres
It has not only been a great season for the rookie but one that could end up being record-setting, and he will be breaking the NHL record set by a former Buffalo Sabres player. According to Mike Kelly of the NHL Network, Housley set the record for goals scored by a defenseman in the season they were 18 years old, with 19 goals, which he achieved in 77 games.
Amazingly, Schaefer is already fourth on this list with his nine goals and has Housley, Bobby Orr, and Aaron Ekblad ahead of him. This is great company to already be included with but with over half a season left, he can certainly catch Housley.
Through the 35 games, Schaefer is averaging .257 goals per game and if he keeps that average over an entire 82-game season he will finish with 21 goals.
Phil Housley was the sixth overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1982 NHL Draft and, similar to Schaefer, made the jump right to the NHL.
He would spend the first eight seasons of his 21-year career in Buffalo and finished with 178 goals and 380 assists in 608 regular-season games. He still holds the franchise record for most goals and assists by a defenseman with the Sabres, but Rasmus Dahlin is quickly catching up to him in both categories.
If the Sabres hope to secure the win and extend their win streak, they are going to have to find a way to contain Matthew Schaefer and, in the process, help a former franchise star try to hold onto his record.