"Growing up watching Leafs games, I wasn't too far outside (Toronto). It will be super awesome. It is like every other game in terms of trying to get the two points, but playing in the NHL is where you want to be, and it is fun."
"From the start of the season, you're playing against all of the top players in the league, and you're line-matching and things like that. You are always looking to learn, and you're always looking to shut them down. It is always a challenge each and every night going up against top guys like Matthews. In the first couple of games at the start of the season, Ovechkin was one of them, along with Crosby, and so on. It is pretty cool, but when you are in the game, you are just looking to shut them down and win the game."
"We all knew he had a lot of skill and talent, but it is the everyday consistency that he has shown that has impressed me the most. Every day, he is ready to play and plays hard. He is very involved offensively, and he is also working really well defensively. He would not play an average of 24+ minutes if he weren't capable of defending. He does it because we trust him."
The Maple Leafs have won nine of the last ten points and travel to face an Islanders squad coping with injuries. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer expressed excitement about facing his hometown team and emphasized the focus on earning two points and enjoying NHL competition. Schaefer described the nightly challenge of matching up against elite players like Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby while learning and trying to shut them down. Islanders coach Patrick Roy praised Schaefer's everyday consistency, heavy minutes, two-way involvement and the confidence gained from playing alongside veteran Ryan Pulock. John Tavares called Schaefer a stud and praised his special play.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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