Five first overall draft picks scored goals last night, including both players involved in the most anticipated matchup of the evening. In a 4-3 New York Islanders victory over San Jose, Isles’ D-man Matthew Schaefer (2025) & Sharks’ forward Macklin Celebrini (2024) each netted a goal (Schaefer also assisted on a Bo Horvat power-play goal). With his two points, Schaefer tied Marek Zidlicky for the longest point streak (six games) to start a career. Also, Schaefer’s goal was the game-winner, the youngest D-man in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
Other first overall picks with goal-scoring efforts last night were Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby (2005) in a 5-1 win over Vancouver, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (2015) in a 3-2 overtime win versus Ottawa, and New Jersey’s Jack Hughes (2019) in a 5-2 victory over Toronto. Hughes netted a hat trick versus the Leafs, while Crosby & McDavid managed one goal apiece.