Who to start · 2025-26
Beck Malenstyn vs Christian Dvorak
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Christian Dvorak projects to 1.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Beck Malenstyn's 1.13.
Malenstyn had 14 points in 81 games; Dvorak had 51 in 80 games.
This week Malenstyn has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Dvorak has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Dvorak for 2.8 to Malenstyn's 2.2 over the games left.
Christian Dvorak has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malenstyn's biggest edges: Hits 282, Top skating speed 24.9, Goals above expected +0.2.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Ice time per game 18:28, Ice-time share 30.1%, Power-play share 47.9%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Christian Dvorak rates ahead, -0.6 to -1.6 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Malenstyn is steady, −1:11 5v5 TOI; Dvorak is steady, ixG/60 0.21 (was 0.71).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
Buffalo Sabres · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Beck Malenstyn
-1.6
category z-score total
Christian Dvorak
-0.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Christian Dvorak has the edge (Malenstyn wins 1, Dvorak wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Malenstyn | Dvorak |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.05 | 0.21 |
| Assists / game | 0.14 | 0.31 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.08 | 0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.64 | 1.51 |
| Hits / game | 3.80 | 0.85 |
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: Malenstyn vs Dvorak
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malenstyn 0G 0A, 4 SOG · Dvorak 1G 4A, 16 SOG
On the ice against each other (Malenstyn's side)
1:26 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malenstyn's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malenstyn | Dvorak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-14 | BUF 5–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-18 | BUF 5–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-03 | BUF 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-03 | BUF 3–4 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | BUF 2–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-12-17 | BUF 1–6 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-11 | BUF 5–7 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2021-11-24 | WSH 6–3 MTL | 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
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)
Christian Dvorak
3games (2 left)
2.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 15th-most FP to CLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.4 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Beck Malenstyn or Christian Dvorak in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Christian Dvorak projects to 1.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Beck Malenstyn's 1.13. Malenstyn had 14 points in 81 games; Dvorak had 51 in 80 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, Beck Malenstyn or Christian Dvorak?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Christian Dvorak leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malenstyn and Dvorak done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Malenstyn's team went 3–5. Malenstyn had 0 points (0 goals) and Dvorak had 5 (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 →