* Matthew Schaefer’s career night saw him mark the first instance in NHL history of a defenseman being the first rookie to 20 goals in a season as the Islanders earned their third straight multi-goal comeback win.
* Teenagers Ben Kindel and Michael Misa both scored the game winner for their respective teams, with the latter doing so in overtime and achieving a rare NHL feat.
* Monday’s slate begins with a matinee matchup between the Predators and Red Wings on “NHL Prime Time” – a-prime time billing for European audiences – and also includes the Maple Leafs hosting the Flyers in the latest Prime Monday Night Hockey.
SCHAEFER’S HISTORIC NIGHT LEADS ISLANDERS TO MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN…
With his team trailing by two, Matthew Schaefer (2-1—3) scored the first goal of New York’s rally and then assisted on the tying tally before scoring the go-ahead marker in the final 10 minutes of regulation to reach the 20-goal mark and register his first career three-point game. The Panthers would respond with a goal of their own with under two minutes to go in the third period, but Anders Lee netted the game’s final goal at 59:28 to cement New York’s third straight multi-goal comeback win – the 10th team in NHL history with a run of that length.
The 18-year-old Schaefer (20-24—44 in 61 GP) bolstered his case for the Calder Trophy with the following notable feats, among others in #NHLStats: Live Updates, thanks to his career-high night:
* Became the youngest defenseman in NHL history (18 years, 177 days), and sixth-youngest skater, to score 20 goals in a season, behind Ted Kennedy (18 years, 79 days), Sidney Crosby (18 years, 149 days), Jordan Staal (18 years, 151 days), Nathan MacKinnon (18 years, 153 days) and Brian Bellows (18 years, 157 days).
* Became the third-youngest defenseman in League history to record a three-point game, behind Craig Wolanin (18 years, 135 days on Dec. 9, 1985) and Doug Bodger (18 years, 151 days on Nov. 16, 1984).
* Became the second 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history to record at least 10 career multi-point games, joining Phil Housley (13).
* Matched Housley (4 in 1983-84) for the most multi-goal outings in a season by a teenage defenseman in NHL history.
* Became the fourth rookie defenseman in League history to score 20 goals in a season. The only blueliner to require fewer games to reach the mark is Brian Leetch (57 GP in 1988-89).
…WHILE FELLOW TEENAGERS KINDEL, MISA TRIUMPH IN WINS FOR PENGUINS, SHARKS
Eighteen-year-old Ben Kindel and 19-year-old Michael Misa both scored the game-winning goals for their teams Sunday, with the latter doing so in overtime and helping the Sharks achieve a rare teenager feat in the process.
* Kindel (1-1—2) scored the game winner – one of his team’s five unanswered goals – as the Penguins (31-15-13, 75 points) shut out the Golden Knights to maintain their second-place position in the Metropolitan Division standings. Kindel registered his fourth game-winning goal of 2025-26 and tied nine others, including Matthew Schaefer, for the fifth most in a season by an 18-year-old in NHL history. The list is topped by Patrik Laine (5 in 2016-17), Nathan MacKinnon (5 in 2013-14), Sidney Crosby (5 in 2005-06) and Wayne Gretzky (5 in 1979-80).
* San Jose (29-25-4, 62 points) closed the gap on idle Seattle (28-22-9, 65 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference when Misa sealed the victory with his first career game winner. He became the third teenager in Sharks history to score an overtime goal, following Macklin Celebrini (3; 2 in 2025-26) and Jeff Friesen (1 in 1994-95). Nineteen-year-old Sam Dickinson assisted on Misa’s goal and marked the fourth instance in NHL history of teenagers factoring on the same overtime goal, following Dickinson and Celebrini (Nov. 11, 2025), Kevin Korchinski and Connor Bedard (Nov. 14, 2023 w/ CHI) as well as Bep Guidolin and Don Gallinger (March 21, 1943 w/ BOS).
THIRD ANNUAL PRIDE CUP COMES TO A CLOSE
The third annual Pride Cup, a two-day event hosted by the NHL in partnership with Pride Tape showcasing two LGBTQ+ hockey associations, wrapped up Sunday. The weekend concluded with Vancouver’s The Cutting Edges and the Seattle Pride Hockey Association facing off for the final time in their three-game series before they both received a $25,000 donation in support of their continued community impact in the Pacific Northwest.
QUICK CLICKS
* 2025-26 NHL Trade Tracker
* Evgeni Malkin, Penguins to discuss contract after season
* Famous Australian exports meet as Blues’ Nathan Walker hangs with ‘Bluey’ characters
* Wild honor Team USA gold medalists
* Color of Hockey: ‘Harris‘ Huskies’ helping to inspire kids in Boston
SIX-GAME SLATE FEATURES RED WINGS, PREDATORS ON “NHL PRIME TIME”
A six-game Monday has an early start in North America but gets prime time billing in Europe when Filip Forsberg and the Predators (27-24-8, 62 points) host Lucas Raymond and the Red Wings (34-20-6, 74 points) at Bridgestone Arena for an “NHL Prime Time” showdown at 8 p.m. CET (2 p.m. ET; 1 p.m. CT). Later, Trevor Zegras and the Flyers battle Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs (27-24-9, 63 points) during Prime Monday Night Hockey.
* Forsberg, who was born in Ostervala, Sweden, enters Monday one multi-goal game shy from tying Markus Naslund (52 GP) for the fourth most in NHL history by a Swedish player. The only others with more are Mats Sundin (81 GP), Tomas Sandstrom (66 GP) and Daniel Alfredsson (64 GP).
* Raymond, who was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, enters Monday with 19-43—62 (58 GP) and is one of 15 European players leading their respective team in points this season (tied or outright). Raymond needs one goal to record his fourth career 20-goal season and can become just the third active Swedish player with that many through their first five campaigns in the NHL – he would join Elias Pettersson (4 of 5 from 2018-19 to 2022-23) and Gabriel Landeskog (4 of 5 from 2011-12 to 2015-16).
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* Zegras has 21-29—50 (59 GP) in his first season with the Flyers – the second-most points among players skating on a new team in 2025-26 behind Mitch Marner (16-43—59 in 50 GP) – and will look to add to his totals against the Maple Leafs Monday. Zegras is on pace for 69 points this season, which would be the most by a player skating in their first season with Philadelphia since Daniel Briere (31-41—72 in 79 GP) in 2007-08.
* Matthews enters Monday’s contest against Philadelphia within two points of a career benchmark: the Maple Leafs captain can become the fifth player in franchise history to record 400 career home points (236-162—398 in 335 GP). He can also become the second-fastest player to reach the mark among that cohort behind only Darryl Sittler (325 GP) – Mats Sundin currently holds second, requiring 384 games to get there.
NATIONAL GAMES ON THE RADAR THIS WEEK
Five #NHLStats and storylines you need to know about other national broadcasts this week:
1. NHL on TNT doubleheader (Tuesday): Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov enters the week one goal shy of capturing the Wild’s all-time goals record and will continue his pursuit when Minnesota duels Tampa Bay in the second game of an NHL on TNT doubleheader (also NJD-FLA). Kaprizov could face Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has earned a point in each of his past eight road games (7-0-1) and enters the week within one victory of becoming the second goaltender in NHL history with nine consecutive 30-win seasons.
2. ESPN two-pack takes center stage (Thursday): A doubleheader on ESPN opens with the Penguins and Sabres, who enter the week in second place in their respective divisions, going head-to-head as they both continue their push for their first playoff berth in years (BUF: 2011 & PIT: 2022). Later, Anze Kopitar and the Kings face off against the Islanders, with the Los Angeles captain set to become just the 25th player in NHL history to skate in 1,500th career games.
3. ABC Hockey Saturday doubleheader: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who already holds the franchise record for goals and points, sits 10 helpers away from claiming its assist title as well and will look to continue the chase when he visits the Bruins. The second half of the matinee doubleheader sees Mika Zibanejad continue his pursuit of 800 career points (7 away) when the Rangers visit the Metropolitan Division-rival Devils – the New York forward can become just the 14th Swedish player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
4. NHL on TNT features key divisional matchup (Saturday): The second half of a two-pack on NHL on TNT features goals leader Nathan MacKinnon and the League-leading Avalanche clashing with Quinn Hughes and the Wild, who are looking to gain ground on their Central Division rival. MacKinnon continues his pursuit of his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and enters the week three points back of 100 on the season – a mark he can reach for the fourth straight campaign. The Colorado forward is also on pace to score 56 goals this season, which would tie for second most in franchise history.
5. Oilers at Golden Knights headline ESPN doubleheader (Sunday): Oilers captain Connor McDavid can close in on 400 career goals as Edmonton gets set to visit Pacific Division-rival Vegas. McDavid (396) can become the fifth player in franchise history to reach the milestone – a list that includes his teammate Leon Draisaitl.
