Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
Sam Malinski has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Ice time per game 20:48, Ice-time share 34.1%, Power-play share 71.5%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Corsi 59.0%, Fenwick 58.7%, Luck Meter +46.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
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.
Matthews 2G 4A, 20 SOG · Malinski 0G 2A, 14 SOG
Matthews blocked 0 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
15:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–17
- 48.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.7
- 45.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | TOR 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-12 | TOR 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-19 | TOR 2–1 COL | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-08 | TOR 4–7 COL | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-01-13 | TOR 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 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
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)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Sam Malinski 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 Sam Malinski's 1.44. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Malinski had 40 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, Auston Matthews or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and Malinski done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 2–3. Matthews had 6 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 2 (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 →