Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Protas's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.43, Goals above expected +1.0, Top skating speed 23.1.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:29, Offensive-zone time 44.4%, Power-play share 68.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.23 |
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: Protas vs Eriksson Ek
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.
Protas 1G 0A, 6 SOG · Eriksson Ek 1G 4A, 14 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Protas's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
8:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–6
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 53.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-16 | WSH 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-17 | WSH 5–1 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-02 | WSH 3–4 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-23 | WSH 3–5 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-27 | WSH 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-19 | WSH 3–5 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Aliaksei Protas or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Protas and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 2–4. Protas had 1 points (1 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Protas has won 1 and Eriksson Ek 1 of their 2 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 →