Nikita Zadorov Calls Out Islanders Fans After Hit on Matthew Schaefer
During a Tuesday night matchup between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, defenseman Nikita Zadorov turned up the physicality after a slow first period, targeting the Islanders’ star rookie Matthew Schaefer behind the Boston net.
Zadorov delivered several hard shoves before knocking Schaefer to the ice, drawing a minor penalty for interference. He then escalated the exchange with another hit to Schaefer’s face, earning additional roughing penalties. Altogether, the Bruins defenseman served six minutes in the penalty box, but the Islanders failed to capitalize on the ensuing power play.
The Bruins, on a strong winning streak, ultimately claimed victory in a shootout — marking their fourth consecutive win.
“We needed to create our own energy because the crowd was sleeping tonight a little bit,” Zadorov said. “So I felt like we had to go out there and create our own energy, get everybody going on the bench, get excited.”
Following the game, Zadorov defended his intensity, suggesting that his actions helped energize both his teammates and the atmosphere inside UBS Arena.
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Author’s Summary:
Zadorov’s fiery performance and sharp remarks toward Islanders fans revived the energy of a quiet game, reinforcing his role as Boston’s emotional sparkplug.