Apr 9, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) reacts after scoring a goal in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
ELMONT, NY — Pete DeBoer’s tenure has started off on the right foot, and the New York Islanders’ playoff chances live to fight another day.
Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman with his 23rd goal of the season, which helped catapult the Islanders to a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at UBS Arena, ending a four-game losing streak and inching them significantly closer back to a playoff spot after falling out.
With losses by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, the Islanders (43-31-5, 91 points) now trail the latter by just one point for third place in the Metropolitan Division and an automatic playoff berth.
New York’s recent downturn in play — it was 3-7-0 in its previous 10 games — prompted the firing of head coach Patrick Roy on Sunday after parts of three seasons with the team, while turning to DeBoer — an 18-year veteran with recent stops in Vegas and Dallas — in hopes of saving the season.
For a team whose backs were against the proverbial wall, it was as dominant a showing as one could have asked from the Islanders. They outshot the Maple Leafs 44-15 and controlled every facet of the game.
“It was a great game by us,” Schaefer said. “There’s things we can always work on, but I thought that was an amazing game. I think we were pretty pumped to have Pete back there… we really wanted to show him how great of a team we are and what a great group we got in here. So that was a big thing.”
Despite a dominant first period in which they outshot Toronto 23-3, the Islanders only had a 2-1 advantage to show for it. They scored twice in the opening 4:55 through goals by Brayden Schenn and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but Steven Lorentz pulled one back for the Maple Leafs with a tough-angled wrister that somehow got through Sorokin. It appeared as though he was screened by his own man, Carson Soucy.
Easton Cowan tied things up for the Leafs on just their sixth shot of the night on the power play, 1:57 into the second period, with a wrister that beat Sorokin over the shoulder.
Schaefer wrenched the Islanders back to life with his 23rd goal of the season, which tied Brian Leetch’s NHL record set in 1988-89 for most goals scored by a rookie defenseman. Meandering down to the left circle, his uncontested wrist shot squeaked through the legs of Leafs goalie Artur Akhtyamov at the 9:39 mark of the second frame.
“It’s crazy,” Schaefer said. “You don’t think about that stuff much, but when it’s brought up, it’s crazy to think about, and it’s definitely an honor to see some of those guys and what they’ve done.”
Emil Heineman put the Islanders back up two on the power play with 3:16 to go when he rifled a one-timer from just inside the left circle past the glove of Akhtyamov.
Cal Ritchie nabbed a fifth for New York on a 5-on-3 with 9:40 left in the game. After Akhtyamov made a lunging save on Schenn, Toronto’s clear attempt ricocheted off its own man right to Ritchie in front, who finished into an open net.
“A lot of really good stuff,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been talking all week about playoff habits. You have to have them this time of year to give yourself a chance to get into the playoffs. I thought they delivered on that… A really solid start. A lot of things for us to build on.”
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