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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Matthew Schaefer

Auston MatthewsAuston MatthewsMaple Leafs · CentrevsMatthew SchaeferMatthew SchaeferIslanders · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Schaefer's 2.02.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Schaefer had 59 in 82 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Schaefer has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Schaefer's 2.4.

Matthew Schaefer has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Blocked shots 81, Transition attempts /60 2.09.

Schaefer's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.8, 20+ mph bursts 269, Top skating speed 23.1.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Matthew Schaefer

2.02

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsSchaefer
Goals (+2)0.790.53
Assists (+1)0.380.41
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.27
Hits (+0.1)0.070.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.67

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Matthews vs Schaefer

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MatthewsSchaefer
1Team record in 2 meetings1
2Points in those games2

Matthews 2G 0A, 7 SOG · Schaefer 2G 0A, 5 SOG

2Shots blocked by the other0

Matthews blocked 2 of Schaefer's shots; Schaefer blocked 0 of Matthews's.

On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)

18:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
14–19
42.4%
Expected goals
0.5–0.8
37.8%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Matthew Schaefer
DateScoreMatthewsSchaefer
2026-09-30TOR 2–1 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2026-01-03TOR 3–4 NYI2G 0A 6S2G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MatthewsSchaefer

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Auston Matthews

3games (1 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
    vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Matthew Schaefer

2games (1 left)

2.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD2.4 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Matthew Schaefer in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Schaefer's 2.02. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Schaefer had 59 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
Who is better, Auston Matthews or Matthew Schaefer?
On 2025-26 numbers, Matthew Schaefer leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Matthews and Schaefer done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 1–1. Matthews had 2 points (2 goals) and Schaefer had 2 (2 goals).

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →