Nikita Zadorov Responds to Islanders Fans After Incident with Matthew Schaefer
Nikita Zadorov confronted Islanders fans who criticized him following his altercation with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer during Tuesday night's game at UBS Arena.
“Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team,” the Bruins defenseman wrote on his verified Instagram account. “That place was a library tonight.”
Zadorov shared a screenshot of direct messages he received immediately after the game, overlaying it with his message on Instagram Stories.
Incident Details
In the second period of the Islanders’ 4-3 shootout loss, Zadorov struck 18-year-old Schaefer twice behind the Bruins’ net, first with a two-handed whack of his stick and then pushing him to the ice as Schaefer tried to recover.
Islanders captain Anders Lee and Anthony Duclair then confronted Zadorov, leading to a chaotic scramble.
- Zadorov was assessed a double-minor penalty for roughing and two more minutes for interference.
- He exchanged heated words with Lee while both were in the penalty box.
Fan Reaction and Game Atmosphere
The crowd of 15,585 at UBS Arena booed Zadorov for the rest of the game. This attendance marked the fourth highest among seven home games this season in the arena’s 17,255-seat capacity, with only one sellout so far.
The Islanders did not comment on Zadorov’s post and skipped practice the following day. Fans vocally supported Schaefer and goalie Ilya Sorokin throughout the match.
“There’s going to be battles every night,” Schaefer commented after the game.
Summary
Zadorov’s incident with Schaefer sparked fan outrage and intense on-ice confrontation, highlighting the competitive tension in the Islanders-Bruins game.
Author’s note: The event underscores the fierce emotions and physicality that often shape NHL rivalries and player interactions.