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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexander Nikishin vs Emil Heineman

Alexander NikishinAlexander NikishinHurricanes · DefencevsEmil HeinemanEmil HeinemanIslanders · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Emil Heineman projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50.

Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Heineman had 31 in 82 games.

This week Nikishin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Heineman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Heineman's 1.2.

Alexander Nikishin has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Nikishin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +18, High-danger chances 53.8%, Faceoffs won 0.

Heineman's biggest edges: Blocked shots 54, Ice-time share 27.3%, Top skating speed 23.5.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexander Nikishin

1.50

fantasy points per game

Emil Heineman

1.51

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Emil Heineman has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromNikishinHeineman
Goals (+2)0.270.54
Assists (+1)0.270.11
Power-play points (+0.5)0.060.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.21
Hits (+0.1)0.160.30
Blocks (+0.5)0.580.33

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: Nikishin vs Heineman

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

NikishinHeineman
3Team record in 3 meetings0
2Points in those games0

Nikishin 0G 2A, 3 SOG · Heineman 0G 0A, 7 SOG

0Hits on each other2
1Shots blocked by the other0

Nikishin blocked 1 of Heineman's shots; Heineman blocked 0 of Nikishin's.

On the ice against each other (Nikishin's side)

12:45 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nikishin's side

Shot attempts
11–13
45.8%
Expected goals
1.2–0.6
66.2%
Goals
2–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexander Nikishin and Emil Heineman
DateScoreNikishinHeineman
2026-04-14CAR 2–1 NYI0G 1A 0S0G 0A 2S
2026-04-04CAR 4–3 NYI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-30CAR 6–2 NYI0G 1A 1S0G 0A 5S

Every stat, side by side

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

NikishinHeineman

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Alexander Nikishin

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.8 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Emil Heineman

2games (1 left)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.2 pts
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexander Nikishin or Emil Heineman in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Emil Heineman projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50. Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Heineman had 31 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, Alexander Nikishin or Emil Heineman?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alexander Nikishin leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Nikishin and Heineman done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, Nikishin's team went 3–0. Nikishin had 2 points (0 goals) and Heineman had 0 (0 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 →