Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov Trolls Islanders Fans After Schaeffer Incident
Nikita Zadorov continued to stir the pot after leaving the ice at UBS Arena. The Bruins defenseman responded on social media to Islanders fans who sent him direct messages following his altercation with rookie Matthew Schaefer during the Islanders’ 4-3 shootout defeat.
Zadorov’s Response on Social Media
On his Instagram story, Zadorov shared screenshots of messages—likely from Islanders fans—calling him names such as "scumbag" and derogatory slurs. He wrote:
“Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team. THAT PLACE WAS A [LIBRARY] TONIGHT!!!”
The On-Ice Incident
The confrontation occurred in the second period when Zadorov shoved Matthew Schaefer with his stick, knocking the rookie to the ice. As Schaefer tried to rise, Zadorov pushed him down high again. This sparked a response from Anthony Duclair and Islanders captain Anders Lee, who rushed to defend Schaefer, followed by other Islanders players on the ice.
Zadorov received a double minor penalty for roughing and two additional minutes for interference.
Post-Game Comments
After the game, Zadorov joked about his penalty minutes, mentioning he wanted to increase his count from the previous season. He also mocked the Islanders fans, highlighting the unusually quiet atmosphere inside UBS Arena during the match.
Summary
Nikita Zadorov playfully engaged with Islanders fans online following a heated on-ice incident, emphasizing the quiet atmosphere at UBS Arena and expressing a desire to boost his penalty minutes.