Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Tuch vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Tuch has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Tuch's 2.4.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tuch's biggest edges: Hits 82, Transition attempts /60 1.44, On-ice PDO 1044.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, Power-play share 68.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Tuch
2.42
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Tuch has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tuch | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.03 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 0.30 |
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: Tuch vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tuch 4G 9A, 57 SOG · Schmaltz 8G 6A, 44 SOG
Tuch's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Tuch's defensive zone 0–0 (2020-21)
Tuch blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Tuch's.
On the ice against each other (Tuch's side)
7:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tuch's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–7
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.3
- 66.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tuch | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-12 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-04 | BUF 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-20 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-07 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-16 | BUF 0–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-17 | BUF 5–2 ARI | 0G 3A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-29 | BUF 3–1 ARI | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-01 | VGK 3–2 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-30 | VGK 0–3 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2021-04-11 | VGK 1–0 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-09 | VGK 7–4 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2021-01-24 | VGK 1–0 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 21 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
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.
Alex Tuch
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B2.4 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Tuch or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 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, Alex Tuch or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tuch and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Tuch's team went 14–7. Tuch had 13 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 14 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tuch or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Tuch has won 0 and Schmaltz 1 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →