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Who to start · 2025-26

Akira Schmid vs Igor Shesterkin

Akira SchmidAkira SchmidPanthers · GoalievsIgor ShesterkinIgor ShesterkinRangers · Goalie

In 2025-26, Akira Schmid posted a .892 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912.

Against our expected-goals model, Schmid saved −6.9 goals and Shesterkin +18.8.

This week Schmid has 1 game left (about 0.2 expected starts) with 1 tough matchup; Shesterkin has 1 left (about 0.8 expected starts) with 1 tough matchup. We project Shesterkin for 1.5 ESPN points to Schmid's 0.4.

Igor Shesterkin has the better number in 7 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.

Schmid's biggest edges: Goals against 85, Shutouts 2, Rebounds prevented /100 −0.84.

Shesterkin's biggest edges: Goals saved above expected +18.8, High-danger save % .843, Save % .912.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 W, .875 SV%.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 W, .936 SV%.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Akira Schmid

1.17

fantasy points per game

Igor Shesterkin

2.44

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Igor Shesterkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromSchmidShesterkin
Wins (+4)1.761.97
Goals against (-2)-5.19-4.71
Saves (+0.2)4.245.01
Shutouts (+3)0.180.06
OT losses (+1)0.180.12

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: Schmid vs Shesterkin

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

SchmidShesterkin
6Team record in 11 meetings5

Igor Shesterkin shooting on Akira Schmid

Goals
0
Shots on goal
1
Expected goals
0.00
Schmid SV%
1.000

1 unblocked attempts. Close to expected.

Games against each other

Games between Akira Schmid and Igor Shesterkin
DateScoreSchmidShesterkin
2025-12-07VGK 3–2 NYR0/0 SV0/0 SV
2025-11-18VGK 3–2 NYR17/19 SV23/26 SV
2023-11-18NJD 3–5 NYR0/0 SV30/33 SV
2023-05-01 · PONJD 4–0 NYR31/31 SV20/23 SV
2023-04-29 · PONJD 2–5 NYR24/29 SV34/36 SV
2023-04-27 · PONJD 4–0 NYR23/23 SV39/42 SV
2023-04-24 · PONJD 3–1 NYR22/23 SV20/22 SV
2023-04-22 · PONJD 2–1 NYR35/36 SV26/28 SV
2023-04-20 · PONJD 1–5 NYR0/0 SV23/24 SV
2023-04-18 · PONJD 1–5 NYR0/0 SV27/28 SV
2022-12-12NJD 3–4 NYR0/0 SV26/29 SV

Every stat, side by side

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

SchmidShesterkin

Goaltending

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.

Akira Schmid

3games (1 left)

0.4proj. ESPN pts

About 0.2 expected starts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to GLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to GSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA24% to start0.4 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

Igor Shesterkin

4games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

About 0.8 expected starts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to GLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to GSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA81% to start1.5 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to GSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Akira Schmid or Igor Shesterkin?
In 2025-26, Akira Schmid posted a .892 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912. Against our expected-goals model, Schmid saved −6.9 goals and Shesterkin +18.8. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
Who is better, Akira Schmid or Igor Shesterkin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Igor Shesterkin leads in 7 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Schmid and Shesterkin done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Schmid's team went 6–5.

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 →