Who to start · 2026-27
Aaron Ekblad vs Dmitry Orlov
In 2026-27, Dmitry Orlov scored 1.64 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aaron Ekblad's 1.32.
Ekblad had 8 points in 19 games; Orlov had 14 in 22 games.
This week Ekblad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Orlov has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Orlov for 1.6 to Ekblad's 1.3 over the games left.
Aaron Ekblad has the better number in 11 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Ekblad's biggest edges: Expected goals 59.8%, Sequence xG 58.9%, High-danger chances 56.9%.
Orlov's biggest edges: Luck Meter +69, Offensive-zone start % 47.1%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.32.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Dmitry Orlov rates ahead, +1.7 to -0.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Ekblad is steady, 3 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Orlov is steady.
- • Ekblad, last 10 games (Oct 25–Nov 14): 1 G, 4 A, 0 PPP, 14 SOG.
- • Orlov, last 10 games (Oct 27–Nov 14): 1 G, 8 A, 5 PPP, 10 SOG.
Florida Panthers · San Jose Sharks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Dmitry Orlov has the edge (Ekblad wins 2, Orlov wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Ekblad | Orlov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Assists / game | 0.37 | 0.50 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.00 | -0.45 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.05 | 0.36 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.42 | 1.00 |
| Hits / game | 1.00 | 1.50 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Ekblad vs Orlov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekblad 4G 17A, 70 SOG · Orlov 0G 13A, 42 SOG
Ekblad blocked 4 of Orlov's shots; Orlov blocked 3 of Ekblad's.
On the ice against each other (Ekblad's side)
16:27 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Ekblad's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–9
- 71.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.1
- 93.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekblad | Orlov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | FLA 3–4 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-19 | FLA 1–4 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-08 | FLA 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-28 · PO | FLA 5–3 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-05-26 · PO | FLA 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-24 · PO | FLA 6–2 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-22 · PO | FLA 5–0 CAR | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-05-20 · PO | FLA 5–2 CAR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-02 | FLA 1–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-30 | FLA 6–0 CAR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-29 | FLA 6–3 CAR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-22 | FLA 0–1 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 36 meetings.
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Aaron Ekblad
4games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Nov 10 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-most FP to DLikely vs Cam Talbot (.909)
- Thu, Nov 12 vs DETOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs John Gibson (.862)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ STLOpp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.921)
- Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Casey DeSmith (.894)
Dmitry Orlov
4games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs NYI
- Wed, Nov 11 vs PITOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Sergei Murashov (.893)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ UTAOpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.872)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aaron Ekblad or Dmitry Orlov in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Dmitry Orlov scored 1.64 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aaron Ekblad's 1.32. Ekblad had 8 points in 19 games; Orlov had 14 in 22 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, Aaron Ekblad or Dmitry Orlov?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Aaron Ekblad leads in 11 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekblad and Orlov done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Ekblad's team went 22–14. Ekblad had 21 points (4 goals) and Orlov had 13 (0 goals).
2026-27 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 →