Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Mantha vs Matvei Michkov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matvei Michkov projects to 1.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Mantha's 1.32.
Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Michkov had 51 in 81 games.
This week Mantha has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Michkov has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Michkov for 3.7 to Mantha's 2.6 over the games left.
Anthony Mantha has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Mantha's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.0, Top skating speed 22.9, Goals above expected +9.1.
Michkov's biggest edges: Ascension score 67, Transition attempts /60 1.55, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.034.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Anthony Mantha rates ahead, +0.0 to -0.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Mantha is falling, 2 P in last 5 (0.75/GP before); Michkov is rising, ixG/60 1.66 (was 0.80).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 14 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 13 SOG.
New Jersey Devils · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Mantha
+0.0
category z-score total
Matvei Michkov
-0.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Anthony Mantha has the edge (Mantha wins 3, Michkov wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Mantha | Michkov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.30 | 0.37 |
| Assists / game | 0.28 | 0.26 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.01 | -0.27 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.10 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.63 | 1.70 |
| Hits / game | 0.61 | 0.31 |
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: Mantha vs Michkov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Mantha 0G 4A, 16 SOG · Michkov 1G 3A, 20 SOG
Mantha blocked 1 of Michkov's shots; Michkov blocked 1 of Mantha's.
On the ice against each other (Mantha's side)
26:36 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Mantha's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–21
- 55.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.8
- 39.4%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Mantha | Michkov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NJD 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PIT 0–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PIT 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PIT 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PIT 0–3 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-07 | PIT 3–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-15 | PIT 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-01 | PIT 5–1 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-28 | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-12 | CGY 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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
Anthony Mantha
3games (2 left)
2.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs COL
- Thu, Oct 22 vs ANA1.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs LAK1.3 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Matvei Michkov
3games (2 left)
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Mantha or Matvei Michkov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matvei Michkov projects to 1.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Mantha's 1.32. Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Michkov had 51 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, Anthony Mantha or Matvei Michkov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Mantha leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Mantha and Michkov done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Mantha's team went 5–6. Mantha had 4 points (0 goals) and Michkov had 4 (1 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 →