Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov Trolls Islanders Fans After Matthew Schaeffer Incident
Nikita Zadorov continued to stir the pot following the Bruins’ game against the Islanders at UBS Arena. The Bruins defenseman used social media to troll Islanders fans who messaged him after his confrontation with rookie Matthew Schaefer during the Islanders' 4-3 shootout defeat.
Social Media Exchange
Zadorov posted a screenshot of direct messages he received from fans, which ranged from insults to name-calling. Responding in his Instagram Story, 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 incident occurred mid-second period when Zadorov shoved Schaefer with his stick, causing the rookie to fall. When Schaefer tried to rise, Zadorov pushed him back down high on the ice. This sparked a response from Islanders players Anthony Duclair and captain Anders Lee, who rushed in to defend Schaefer, followed by the rest of the Islanders players.
Zadorov received penalties including a double minor for roughing and two minutes for interference.
Post-Game Remarks
After the game, Zadorov joked about wanting to increase his penalty minutes from last season due to the chaos he was involved in. He also mocked the crowd noise, implying that the arena was unusually quiet during the match.
He joked about wanting to raise his penalty numbers and poked fun at Islanders fans about the quiet atmosphere inside the arena.
Author’s summary: Nikita Zadorov provocatively responded to Islanders fans online after a heated in-game incident with Matthew Schaefer, highlighting tensions on and off the ice.