Top pick Matthew Schaefer scores 1st goal in Isles' loss to Caps

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th October, 01:47 2025

NHL: Washington Capitals at New York Islanders

Oct 11, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at UBS Arena. The goal was the first of his NHL career. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Aliaksei Protas scored twice Saturday night for the Washington Capitals, who never trailed in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y.

Martin Fehervary scored the Capitals' first goal while Ryan Leonard scored in the second for Washington, which has split its first two games for the third straight season. Goalie Logan Thompson made 34 saves.

Anthony Duclair scored late in the second and Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, collected his first NHL goal in the third for the Islanders, who are 0-2-0 for the first time since 2021-22. Goalie Ilya Sorokin recorded 25 saves.

Fehervary opened the scoring just 1:50 after the opening faceoff. Alex Ovechkin's shot from the blue line glanced off a kneeling Alexander Romanov and to Fehervary, who flicked a backhander beyond Sorokin's stick.

The Capitals doubled the lead almost exactly 12 minutes later. Tom Wilson got a piece of Jean-Gabriel Pageau's pass and Islanders right winger Simon Holmstrom couldn't corral the puck before Jakob Chychrun got his stick on it. The puck bounced to Protas, who whirled in the slot and fired a shot past Sorokin with 6:08 left.

Leonard was rewarded for his persistence when he was credited with a goal moments after a power play expired at 9:50 of the second. The right winger had a pair of shots blocked and Sorokin turned back two attempts by Connor McMichael before Leonard's shot glanced off the stick of Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and fluttered past Sorokin.

Another Islanders turnover led to Protas' second goal with 4:30 left in the period. Tony DeAngelo whiffed while trying to make a pass and Protas caught up with the puck before beating Sorokin on the breakaway.

The Islanders got on the board by scoring on the power play with 1:09 remaining, when Duclair's shot from the right faceoff circle sailed past Thompson's glove.

New York struck again on the power play 4:28 into the third, when Schaefer scored his milestone goal by diving into a pile of bodies in the crease and poking home the loose puck.

--Field Level Media

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