Who to start · 2025-26
Andre Burakovsky vs Beck Malenstyn
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Beck Malenstyn projects to 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Andre Burakovsky's 0.89.
Burakovsky had 33 points in 75 games; Malenstyn had 14 in 81 games.
This week Burakovsky has 3 games left with 1 soft and 2 tough matchups; Malenstyn has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Burakovsky for 2.7 to Malenstyn's 2.2 over the games left.
Beck Malenstyn has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burakovsky's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 70.3%, Power-play time per game 2:12, Power-play share 49.2%.
Malenstyn's biggest edges: Hits 282, Top skating speed 24.9, Plus/minus 0.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Beck Malenstyn rates ahead, -1.6 to -4.9 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Burakovsky is cooling, On-ice xGF/60 1.03 (was 2.45); Malenstyn is steady, −1:11 5v5 TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Ottawa Senators · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Andre Burakovsky
-4.9
category z-score total
Beck Malenstyn
-1.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Beck Malenstyn has the edge (Burakovsky wins 4, Malenstyn wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Burakovsky | Malenstyn |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Assists / game | 0.22 | 0.14 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.37 | -0.08 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.97 | 0.64 |
| Hits / game | 0.28 | 3.80 |
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: Burakovsky vs Malenstyn
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Burakovsky 0G 0A, 9 SOG · Malenstyn 0G 0A, 5 SOG
On the ice against each other (Burakovsky's side)
2:42 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Burakovsky's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–4
- 20.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burakovsky | Malenstyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | CHI 1–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-20 | SEA 6–4 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-14 | SEA 1–2 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-11 | SEA 4–1 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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
Andre Burakovsky
3games
2.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA0.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR0.8 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Beck Malenstyn
2games
2.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.1 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.1 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Andre Burakovsky or Beck Malenstyn in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Beck Malenstyn projects to 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Andre Burakovsky's 0.89. Burakovsky had 33 points in 75 games; Malenstyn had 14 in 81 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, Andre Burakovsky or Beck Malenstyn?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Beck Malenstyn leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burakovsky and Malenstyn done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Burakovsky's team went 2–2. Burakovsky had 0 points (0 goals) and Malenstyn 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 →