Matthew Schaefer or Shayne Gostisbehere? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Matthew Schaefer, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.0 fantasy points to 1.9. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), defensemen ranked 13th and 15th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Matthew Schaefer, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.0 fantasy points to 1.9.
Categories leagues: Shayne Gostisbehere instead, 2.6 category value for the week to 1.3, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over NYI's last 5 games Matthew Schaefer played 5 games, 25:26 a night with 4:00 on the power play: pair 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over CAR's last 5 games Shayne Gostisbehere played 5 games, 17:29 a night with 4:07 on the power play: pair 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Shayne Gostisbehere's ice time is down: 17:29 over his last 5 games against 19:02 on the board.
CAR has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Matthew Schaefer | Shayne Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Pair 1 | Pair 3 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 25:26 (5) | 17:29 (5) |
| TOI, board | 24:50 | 19:02 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:00 | 4:07 |
| Shots, last games | 3.8 | 2.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Projected category value | 1.3 | 2.6 |
Schedule: Matthew Schaefer Tue VAN, Thu @OTT, Sat @TOR. Shayne Gostisbehere Tue WSH, Sat @WPG, Sun @CGY.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Matthew Schaefer, 1.97 fantasy points per game to 1.95.
Categories leagues: Shayne Gostisbehere instead, 60th overall against 72nd, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Matthew Schaefer | Shayne Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| G goals | -0.6 | -0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.1 | 1.0 |
| BLK blocked shots | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| HIT hits | -0.7 | -0.7 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.9 | -0.5 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Matthew Schaefer or Shayne Gostisbehere in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Matthew Schaefer, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.0 fantasy points to 1.9. Categories leagues: Shayne Gostisbehere instead, 2.6 category value for the week to 1.3, because his category mix is worth more there. Over NYI's last 5 games Matthew Schaefer played 5 games, 25:26 a night with 4:00 on the power play: pair 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over CAR's last 5 games Shayne Gostisbehere played 5 games, 17:29 a night with 4:07 on the power play: pair 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Shayne Gostisbehere's ice time is down: 17:29 over his last 5 games against 19:02 on the board. CAR has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Matthew Schaefer or Shayne Gostisbehere?
Season-long, points leagues: Matthew Schaefer, 1.97 fantasy points per game to 1.95. Categories leagues: Shayne Gostisbehere instead, 60th overall against 72nd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Matthew Schaefer or Shayne Gostisbehere?
Matthew Schaefer is ahead per game in 2 (blocked shots, shots on goal); Shayne Gostisbehere in 4 (assists, goals, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number