Nikita Zadorov Responds to Islanders Fans After Incident with Matthew Schaefer
Nikita Zadorov retaliated against Islanders fans who targeted him following his aggressive play against No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.
“Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team,” said the Bruins defenseman on his verified Instagram account. “That place was a library tonight.”
Zadorov shared a screenshot of direct messages sent to him right after the game, overlaying the post with his message as an Instagram story.
Details of the Incident
During the second period of the Islanders’ 4-3 shootout loss, Zadorov struck 18-year-old Schaefer twice behind the Bruins’ net with his stick. When Schaefer tried to regain his footing, Zadorov pushed him again to the ice, sparking a confrontation led by Islanders captain Anders Lee and Anthony Duclair.
This escalated into a chaotic scrum, and Zadorov was penalized with a double-minor for roughing and an additional two minutes for interference. While in the penalty box, Zadorov engaged in a heated exchange with Lee.
Reaction from Fans and Team
The crowd of 15,585 expressed disapproval of Zadorov’s actions for the rest of the game. UBS Arena’s attendance ranked fourth highest this season, with a capacity of 17,255 and only one sellout game to date.
The Islanders declined to comment on Zadorov’s social media post and did not hold a practice on Wednesday. Fans frequently chanted in support of Schaefer and goalie Ilya Sorokin throughout the match.
“There’s going to be battles every night,” Schaefer stated after the game.
Author’s summary: Zadorov’s aggressive play against Schaefer sparked controversy among fans, triggering penalties and social media backlash during the Islanders’ close loss.
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