Matthew Schaefer Sets NHL Record for Overtime Ice Time in Islanders Win

Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer became the first player on record to skate an entire five-minute overtime period during a 4-3 win over Nashville.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer made NHL history Tuesday night by skating all five minutes of an overtime period during a 4-3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators. The 19-year-old is the first skater to accomplish this feat since the league began tracking real-time ice data in the 2009-10 season. Schaefer finished the contest with a career-high 32:16 of total ice time.

During the extra session, the reigning Calder Trophy winner recorded four shot attempts and drew a tripping penalty against Nashville's Filip Forsberg. Earlier in the game, Schaefer provided an assist on a second-period goal scored by Bo Horvat. The victory marked the first NHL win for goaltender Semyon Varlamov since November 14, 2024.

Islanders coach Pete DeBoer noted that the defenseman's enthusiasm to impact the game is evident every time he hits the ice. Schaefer entered this season following a unanimous selection as the NHL rookie of the year for the 2025-26 campaign.