Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rantanen has 1 left. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Corsi 53.5%, Fenwick 54.8%.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Power-play share 82.8%, Power-play time per game 3:54, Power-play points 34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.57
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.69 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.27 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 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 Rantanen
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 0G 0A, 12 SOG · Rantanen 3G 6A, 17 SOG
Protas blocked 1 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of Protas's.
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
4:54 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–3
- 78.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.0
- 95.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | WSH 0–1 DAL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-21 | WSH 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-15 | WSH 5–2 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-13 | WSH 3–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-24 | WSH 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 4A 3S |
| 2023-01-24 | WSH 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-19 | WSH 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −11.7 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 1–6. Protas had 0 points (0 goals) and Rantanen had 9 (3 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 →