Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Ivar Stenberg
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivar Stenberg projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.30.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Stenberg had 7 in 10 games.
This week Protas has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Stenberg has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Stenberg for 4.2 to Protas's 3.0 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Ivar Stenberg rates ahead, -0.5 to -1.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Protas is falling, ixG/60 0.51 (was 0.96); Stenberg is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.40/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • Ivar Stenberg is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 6 PPP, 15 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
-1.1
category z-score total
Ivar Stenberg
-0.5
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Ivar Stenberg has the edge (Protas wins 4, Stenberg wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Protas | Stenberg |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.21 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 0.31 | 0.50 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.04 | -0.80 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.68 | 1.50 |
| Hits / game | 0.48 | 0.20 |
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
Aliaksei Protas and Ivar Stenberg have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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
Aliaksei Protas
2games
3.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Ivar Stenberg
4games (3 left)
4.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT1.5 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Ivar Stenberg in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivar Stenberg projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.30. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Stenberg had 7 in 10 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
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 →