Schaefer and the Islanders against the Blue Jackets
Matthew Schaefer will look to add weight to his bid for a spot with Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics when the New York Islanders (21-13-4) visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (15-15-6) at Nationwide Arena (5 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MSGSN).
The 18-year-old rookie defenseman has 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 38 games, averaging 23:45 of ice time per game, including a game-high 27:03 in Saturday’s 2-0 win over the New York Rangers. Schaefer, who was selected by the Islanders with the first pick in the 2025 NHL draft, ranks sixth among Canadian defensemen this season and is just one goal away from becoming the third 18-year-old defenseman to score 10 goals in a season. Phil Housley had 17 with the Buffalo Sabers before turning 19 in 1982-83, and Bobby Orr had 13 with the Boston Bruins in 1966-67.
The Blue Jackets have only two wins in their last nine games (2-6-1), and they will try to end the year on a good note, occupying last place in the Eastern Conference standings with 36 points, six less than the Florida Panthers, the last team in the playoffs at the moment.
Ten for Zegras?
Trevor Zegras can extend his point streak to 10 for the Philadelphia Flyers (19-10-7), who visit the Seattle Kraken (15-14-6) at Climate Pledge Arena (8 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, KONG, NHLN, NBCSP).
Zegras has 11 points (five goals, six assists) over his last nine games and leads the Flyers with 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 36 games.
The Kraken finished the pre-holiday portion of the schedule in style with three straight wins, having lost their previous four games.
