Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Nick Suzuki
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Suzuki had 101 in 82 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Suzuki has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Suzuki's 1.7.
Nick Suzuki has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.0, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30, Forecheck xG /60 0.43.
Suzuki's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.1%, Power-play time per game 3:32, Power-play points 43.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Nick Suzuki
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Suzuki has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.66 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.82 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.39 |
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 Suzuki
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Protas 2G 7A, 21 SOG · Suzuki 9G 10A, 34 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Protas's defensive zone 3–1 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
17:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–20
- 56.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.8
- 51.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | WSH 2–6 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2026-01-13 | WSH 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-20 | WSH 8–4 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | WSH 4–1 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-10 | WSH 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-12-07 | WSH 4–2 MTL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-31 | WSH 6–3 MTL | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-17 | WSH 4–3 MTL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-06 | WSH 2–5 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2023-10-21 | WSH 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-04-06 | WSH 2–6 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-31 | WSH 9–2 MTL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 meetings.
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)
Nick Suzuki
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.7 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Cvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Nick Suzuki in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Suzuki had 101 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, Aliaksei Protas or Nick Suzuki?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Suzuki leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Suzuki done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 9–5. Protas had 9 points (2 goals) and Suzuki had 19 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Suzuki?
- Against each other, Protas has won 3 and Suzuki 2 of their 5 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 →