Rookie watch
Matthew Schaefer’s NHL career is off to a strong start, and the New York Islanders defenseman is an early candidate to win the Calder Trophy given to the rookie of the year. The No. 1 selection in the 2025 NHL Draft has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 15 games for the Islanders (7-6-2) and is tied with Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke (six goals, five assists) for third in rookie scoring, behind Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov (13 points; four goals, nine assists). Schaefer, 18, is leading the Islanders in ice time, averaging 22:16 per game. He will get another opportunity to impress when they visit the New Jersey Devils (11-4-0) at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSGSN).
Troubles at home
The Nashville Predators will try to take advantage of the New York Rangers’ struggles at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, MSG, TVAS). The Rangers (7-7-2), who are 7-1-1 on the road, are 0-6-1 at home — the seven-game skid is the longest in team history from the start of a season — and have been shut out five times, including twice in a row. Nashville (5-8-4) is looking to end a four-game slide (0-2-2). Filip Forsberg leads the Predators with 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 17 games.
Loving Las Vegas
Mitch Marner (18 points; four goals, 14 assists in 14 games) is thriving in his first season with the Golden Knights (7-3-4). The forward has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two games and eight multiple-point games this season. Also delivering for Vegas is Jack Eichel, a forward whose 22 points are a team high, and eight goals rank second to Pavel Dorofeyev’s 10.
The schedule
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSGSN)
Nashville Predators at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, MSG, TVAS)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET; Prime, FDSNOH)
Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, TVAS)
