Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Malkin has 1 left. We project Malkin for 2.1 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.7.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Blocked shots 47, Corsi 56.1%.
Malkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.9%, Hardest shot 93.1, Power-play share 72.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Malkin 17–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.14 |
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: Cirelli vs Malkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 7G 0A, 23 SOG · Malkin 7G 10A, 36 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 5–5 · Cirelli's defensive zone 10–3 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 3 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
15:22 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–15
- 44.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–1.3
- 47.8%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TBL 6–3 PIT | 3G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-04 | TBL 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-06 | TBL 3–1 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-30 | TBL 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-03 | TBL 1–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2020-02-11 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-06 | TBL 4–2 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-01-30 | TBL 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 pts
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Anthony Cirelli or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Malkin done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 7–6. Cirelli had 7 points (7 goals) and Malkin had 17 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Malkin?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 17 and Malkin 9 of their 26 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 →