Who to start · 2025-26
Beck Malenstyn vs Sandis Vilmanis
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Beck Malenstyn projects to 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sandis Vilmanis's 0.83.
Malenstyn had 14 points in 81 games; Vilmanis had 5 in 19 games.
This week Malenstyn has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Vilmanis has 3 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Vilmanis for 3.0 to Malenstyn's 2.2 over the games left.
Sandis Vilmanis has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Vilmanis's biggest edges: Ascension score 70, Luck Meter +12.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Beck Malenstyn rates ahead, -1.6 to -2.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Malenstyn is steady, −1:11 5v5 TOI; Vilmanis is steady.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • Sandis Vilmanis is a rookie: 19 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
Buffalo Sabres · Florida Panthers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Beck Malenstyn
-1.6
category z-score total
Sandis Vilmanis
-2.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Beck Malenstyn has the edge (Malenstyn wins 3, Vilmanis wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Malenstyn | Vilmanis |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| Assists / game | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.08 | -0.12 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.64 | 0.95 |
| Hits / game | 3.80 | 2.42 |
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 Vilmanis
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malenstyn 1G 0A, 3 SOG · Vilmanis 1G 1A, 5 SOG
On the ice against each other (Malenstyn's side)
11:07 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Malenstyn's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–13
- 27.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 24.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malenstyn | Vilmanis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 | BUF 5–3 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-02-27 | BUF 3–2 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-02 | BUF 5–3 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-12 | BUF 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 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.
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)
Sandis Vilmanis
3games
3.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT1.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.0 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Beck Malenstyn or Sandis Vilmanis in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Beck Malenstyn projects to 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sandis Vilmanis's 0.83. Malenstyn had 14 points in 81 games; Vilmanis had 5 in 19 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 Sandis Vilmanis?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sandis Vilmanis leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malenstyn and Vilmanis done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Malenstyn's team went 3–1. Malenstyn had 1 points (1 goals) and Vilmanis had 2 (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 →