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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Joel Eriksson Ek

Auston MatthewsAuston MatthewsMaple Leafs · CentrevsJoel Eriksson EkJoel Eriksson EkWild · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.

Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Faceoff win % 59.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.103.

Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Luck Meter +14, Hits 106.

Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads Eriksson Ek 40–33.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Joel Eriksson Ek

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsEriksson Ek
Goals (+2)0.790.51
Assists (+1)0.380.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.28
Hits (+0.1)0.070.15
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.23

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: Matthews vs Eriksson Ek

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MatthewsEriksson Ek
8Team record in 11 meetings3
14Points in those games6

Matthews 10G 4A, 42 SOG · Eriksson Ek 0G 6A, 34 SOG

40Faceoffs against each other33

Matthews's offensive zone 18–10 · neutral 10–20 · Matthews's defensive zone 12–3 (2019-20 to 2024-25)

0Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other2

Matthews blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 2 of Matthews's.

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Joel Eriksson Ek
DateScoreMatthewsEriksson Ek
2025-01-29TOR 1–3 MIN0G 0A 6S0G 1A 3S
2024-11-03TOR 1–2 MIN0G 1A 3S0G 0A 4S
2023-11-19TOR 4–3 MIN1G 1A 2S0G 1A 6S
2023-10-14TOR 7–4 MIN3G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2023-02-24TOR 2–1 MIN0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2022-11-25TOR 4–3 MIN0G 0A 3S0G 1A 2S
2022-02-24TOR 3–1 MIN2G 0A 4S0G 0A 5S
2021-12-04TOR 3–4 MIN1G 1A 8S0G 2A 3S
2019-12-31TOR 4–1 MIN1G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2019-10-15TOR 4–2 MIN1G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S
2018-12-01TOR 5–3 MIN1G 0A 2S0G 1A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MatthewsEriksson Ek

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Auston Matthews

3games (1 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
    vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Joel Eriksson Ek

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Auston Matthews or Joel Eriksson Ek?
On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Matthews and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 8–3. Matthews had 14 points (10 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 6 (0 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Eriksson Ek?
Against each other, Matthews has won 40 and Eriksson Ek 33 of their 73 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 →