Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Tuch vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Tuch has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Malinski has 1 left. We project Tuch for 4.0 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
Alex Tuch has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tuch's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007, Penalty minutes 57, Ice-time share 31.4%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.5%, Forecheck xG /60 0.44, Faceoffs won 0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Tuch
2.42
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Tuch has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tuch | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.03 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tuch 0G 3A, 8 SOG · Malinski 1G 2A, 7 SOG
Tuch blocked 1 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 0 of Tuch's.
On the ice against each other (Tuch's side)
6:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tuch's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–8
- 61.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.2
- 80.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tuch | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-13 | BUF 3–6 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-13 | BUF 1–3 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-02 | BUF 5–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-03 | BUF 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-13 | BUF 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
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
4.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B2.4 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Tuch or Sam Malinski 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 Sam Malinski's 1.44. Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Malinski had 40 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 Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Tuch leads in 21 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 Malinski done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Tuch's team went 0–5. Tuch had 3 points (0 goals) and Malinski had 3 (1 goals).
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 →