Matthew Schaefer posts three points, makes NHL history in overtime win

Fantasy hockey: Schaefer's two goals and an assist against Minnesota were well above his recent averages of 0.70 points a night. Fantasy impact.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 30, 2026 · Updated October 30, 2026

Matthew Schaefer posted two goals and one assist on six shots in 30:01 as the Islanders beat Minnesota 4-3 in overtime on Thursday, October 29. He became the first skater on record to play all five minutes of an overtime period, finishing the night with 30:01 in ice time.

The three-point night towers over his recent averages of 0.70 points, 2.6 shots and 24:37 a night. His underlying play grades 93 out of 100 among defensemen, a measure of how sustainable his scoring is based on shots, chances and minutes.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Matthew Schaefer

Schaefer's six shots and three points on Thursday blew past his recent marks of 2.6 shots and 0.70 points a night. The 19-year-old defenseman logged 30:01, nearly six minutes above his 24:37 average, and added a hit and two blocked shots while finishing even. He averages 0.31 goals and 0.39 assists per game with 0.4 hits and 1.3 blocks a night.

He plays 2:58 a night on the first power-play unit, fourth among all Islanders skaters. The Islanders have two games left this week, Thursday and Saturday. His elite process grade and massive ice time keep him in the top tier of fantasy defensemen across all formats.

Semyon Varlamov

Varlamov is back in the lineup with two games left this week for the Islanders. He posted a win on Thursday, his first NHL win since November 14, 2024. He holds recent averages of a 2.67 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage over a 38-game sample.

His 34 percent start share keeps him in a backup role. With two games remaining this week, Thursday and Saturday, and three next week, he will split time. He remains a streaming option in deeper leagues when he draws the start.

What to do

• Start Schaefer in all formats with two games left this week and elite minutes.

• Stream Varlamov only when he is confirmed as the starter, given his backup share.

• Treat Schaefer as a top-10 fantasy defenseman based on his ice time, power-play role and underlying play.

Schedule this week