Who Should I Start?
Compare up to 4 skaters or goalies on projected fantasy stats for the rest of this fantasy week, scored the way your league counts them, with injuries, goalie starts, matchups and role trends. Every comparison has its own link you can share.
Players
Search for two to four skaters, or two to four goalies. Tip: every player page has a “Start or sit” button that opens this tool with him already added.
Projections: LineupExperts with Edgehalla's model filling missing categories (Yahoo points included). Injuries from the ESPN report, goalie start chances from our start model, schedule from the NHL. Matchup chips rank tonight's opponent by fantasy points allowed per game to the position (LineupExperts team defense rankings). Role trend chips come from Ascension (ice time, power-play and line role over the last 5 games against the previous 20); they break near-ties but don't change the projection. Hits model figures are Edgehalla's bangers model for today's game. Not sure which scoring your league uses? See fantasy hockey scoring formats explained, or how to win start/sit decisions.
Master Your Fantasy Hockey Lineup Decisions
Data-Driven Start/Sit Decisions
Stop guessing which players to start in your fantasy hockey lineup. Our player comparison tool uses real-time projections to show you exactly who has the statistical edge tonight. Compare goals, assists, shots, hits, blocks, and more to make confident lineup decisions.
Compare Up to 4 Players Instantly
Torn between multiple options? Stack up to 4 skaters, or up to 4 goalies, side-by-side. Whether it's choosing between your third-line forwards or deciding which goalie to start, see every relevant stat in one view, with a pick that says how big the edge is: clear, a lean, or a toss-up.
Customized for Your League Format
Every fantasy hockey league is different. Pick a scoring profile (Standard, which is Yahoo's default, Banger with hits and blocks, Roto, Classic, Scoring, Hits & blocks or ESPN points), score on Yahoo, DraftKings or FanDuel points, choose your own categories, or rank by a single stat. Each category is weighed by how much it separates players, so a big edge in goals counts for more than a sliver of penalty minutes. Your choice is remembered, and with a free account it can load your league's own categories.
Real-Time NHL Projections
Our LineupExperts projections refresh through the day with the latest lineup news, confirmed starters, and injury updates.You'll always be working with current data when making your start/sit decisions. No more outdated information costing you wins.
Understand Player Matchups
A player's value depends heavily on their opponent. Each selected player gets a matchup chip showing where tonight's opponent ranks in fantasy points allowed to that position, so you can start the players with favorable matchups and sit those facing tough defensive teams. Skaters also carry their Ascension role trend (rising, steady or falling ice time, power-play and line role), which breaks near-ties toward the player whose role is growing.
Works for All Player Types
Skaters and goalies are compared separately, because they score in different categories. Skaters are judged on goals, assists, shots, hits, blocks and the rest; goalies on wins, saves, save percentage and GAA, with each goalie's chance of starting shown alongside.
🏒 Make Better Lineup Decisions Today
The difference between winning and losing your fantasy hockey matchup often comes down to a few key start/sit decisions. Use our free comparison tool to analyze player projections, identify statistical edges, and set your optimal lineup with confidence. Updated daily with fresh projections for every NHL game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using our fantasy hockey start/sit tool
How does the 'Who Should I Start' tool work?
Add up to 4 skaters, or up to 4 goalies, and the tool compares their projected fantasy stats for today's games or the rest of the fantasy week, along with injury status, goalie start chances, tonight's opponent and each skater's role trend. Every category is measured against everyone projected in the same window, then the player with the best overall score is the pick, labelled as a clear edge, a lean or a toss-up.
Can I compare a skater with a goalie?
No. Skaters and goalies score in different categories, so the tool compares them separately. The first player you add sets the comparison to skaters or goalies; if a shared link mixes them, the other kind is left out with a note.
What categories are used to compare players?
Skaters: Goals, Assists, Points, Shots on Goal, Hits, Blocked Shots, Plus/Minus, Penalty Minutes, Power Play Points and Faceoffs Won. Goalies: Wins, Saves, Goals Against, Goals-Against Average and Save Percentage. Both can also be scored on Yahoo, DraftKings or FanDuel fantasy points.
Can I set the tool up for my league's scoring?
Yes. Pick a profile: Standard (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT, Yahoo's default head-to-head categories), Banger (adds PIM and BLK), Roto (Yahoo's rotisserie default, with BLK instead of HIT), Classic (with PIM), Scoring, Hits & blocks, ESPN default points, or Yahoo, DraftKings or FanDuel points. Or choose your own categories, or rank by a single stat. Goalies have their own profiles. Your choice is remembered on your device, and with a free account it follows you to other devices and can load the categories or point values of a connected Yahoo, ESPN or Fantrax league.
How often are the projections updated?
Projections come from LineupExperts and are refreshed through the day (about every 30 minutes) as lineups, injuries and starting goalies change. Schedules and matchups combine LineupExperts and official NHL data, and the opponent defense rankings behind the matchup chips update once a day.
What do the matchup chips mean?
Each chip shows how tonight's opponent ranks in average fantasy points allowed per game to the player's position (C, LW, RW, D or G), from LineupExperts team defense rankings. 'Opp allows 3rd-most FP to C' is a soft matchup for a center; 'Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to D' is a tough one for a defenseman.
What is the role trend (Surging, Rising, Steady, Cooling, Falling)?
It comes from our Ascension engine, which compares a skater's last 5 games with his previous 20: ice time, power-play role, line placement and linemates. A rising role is a good sign for the weeks ahead. It does not change tonight's projection, but when two players are a toss-up the one with the rising role gets the nod, and the tool says so.
What do the comparison tiers mean (Dominates vs Wins vs Close)?
Edges are measured in standard deviations across every player projected in the same window. Dominates means a full standard deviation ahead, Wins means at least a third of one, and Close means less than that, essentially a toss-up. Measuring this way keeps a tiny edge in a low-scoring category from counting as much as a real edge in goals.
Can I share a comparison?
Yes. The players, the projection window (today or this week), your scoring and any single-category focus are all in the page address, so copy the link to share or bookmark it. Every player page has a Start or sit button, and every player comparison page shows today's pick under your saved scoring.
Why does a player show 'No Game Today'?
If a player's team isn't scheduled to play today, they won't have projections available. The tool shows this so you know to check back on game day, switch to This week, or consider players who are actually playing.
Does this work for both head-to-head and roto leagues?
Yes. For category leagues, pick the profile or categories your league counts and the tool weighs them all. For points leagues, score on Yahoo, DraftKings or FanDuel points, or load your own league's point values with a free account.
How accurate are the projections?
Projections are estimates based on historical performance, matchup data, and expected ice time. While no projection is perfect, they provide a solid baseline for decision-making. Always factor in your own knowledge of matchups and situations.