"That's a penalty shot": NHL fans react to Matthew Schaefer's backcheck on Matvei Michkov's breakaway attemp

NHL fans on social media reacted to the New York Islanders' first overall pick in the 2025 draft, Matthew Schaefer, for his backcheck on the Philadelphia Flyers' Matvei Michkov during a breakaway point.

In the Islanders' preseason opener against the Flyers on Sunday, Schaefer made a standout defensive play in overtime. With the game tied 2-2 after Michkov's late third-period goal, Schaefer used his elite skating to catch up to the Flyers forward on what appeared to be a clear breakaway opportunity.

Matthew Schaefer stripped the puck cleanly, preventing a potential game-winner. Here's the video of the play:

One fan on X (formerly Twitter) said:

"That's a penalty shot lol."

Another chimed in:

"Looks like Sanderson out there with skating like that he's going to be good."

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"Can you play the awful pass that lead to the flyers goal? He has nhl skill and should be real good but there is no need to rush him unless you just want to fill seats," a third fan wrote.

"The skating by Schaefer holy moly that was a BEAUTIFUL stop on Michkov," one X user posted.

"Looks like Sanderson out there with skating like that he's going to be good," another wrote.

"Holy cement wheels out of michkov," another chimed in.

Matthew Schaefer opens up about fans chanting his name during preseason game

Matthew Schaefer notched his first assist in the Islanders' 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Fans chanting his name after the assist gave the 18-year-old defenseman shivers.

“I definitely got shivers. We thought it was for Maisie, but I guess it was for me. You get chills. It's pretty cool, because the fans are right behind you," he said via Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Meanwhile, Matvei Michkov scored a goal for the Flyers in the win. Schaefer and the Islanders will be up against the New Jersey Devils in their next preseason matchup on Tuesday. The puck at Prudential Center drops at 7 p.m. ET.

Also Read: $73,200,000 NY Islanders superstar makes his thoughts known about No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta