Who to start · 2026-27
Brett Howden vs Jordan Martinook
In 2026-27, Jordan Martinook scored 1.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brett Howden's 1.29.
Howden had 9 points in 21 games; Martinook had 10 in 21 games.
This week Howden has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Martinook has no games left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Howden for 1.5 to Martinook's 0.0 over the games left.
Jordan Martinook has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Howden's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 53, Top skating speed 22.2, Penalty minutes 16.
Martinook's biggest edges: Corsi 61.2%, Ascension score 75, Scoring chances 60.3%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Jordan Martinook rates ahead, -1.1 to -2.0 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Howden is rising, ixG/60 2.08 (was 1.01); Martinook is rising, ixG/60 1.39 (was 0.65).
- • Howden, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 18 SOG.
- • Martinook, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 14): 3 G, 4 A, 0 PPP, 17 SOG.
Vegas Golden Knights · Carolina Hurricanes · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Jordan Martinook has the edge (Howden wins 2, Martinook wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Howden | Martinook |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.29 | 0.19 |
| Assists / game | 0.14 | 0.29 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.00 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.67 | 1.62 |
| Hits / game | 1.19 | 1.29 |
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: Howden vs Martinook
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Howden 7G 5A, 30 SOG · Martinook 5G 5A, 35 SOG
Howden's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–1 · Howden's defensive zone 0–0 (2019-20 to 2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Howden's side)
18:57 at 5-on-5 over 6 games, 2025-26, from Howden's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–14
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.5
- 53.5%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Howden | Martinook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 · PO | VGK 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-06-11 · PO | VGK 2–4 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-06-09 · PO | VGK 3–5 CAR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-06-06 · PO | VGK 5–4 CAR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-06-04 · PO | VGK 3–4 CAR | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-06-02 · PO | VGK 5–4 CAR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-28 | VGK 6–3 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-17 | VGK 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-11 | VGK 2–5 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-17 | VGK 1–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | VGK 3–6 CAR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-11 | VGK 4–0 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 21 meetings.
Faceoffs: Howden vs Martinook
Model: Brett Howden wins 51.8% of draws against Jordan Martinook on average (L shot vs L shot). Same-handed, so the dot decides who is on his strong side; the gap between the left and right dots is the real matchup.
| Howden at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 59% | 44% | 60% | 45% | 52% | 60% | 45% | 61% | 46% |
| Road | 57% | 43% | 58% | 44% | 52% | 58% | 44% | 59% | 45% |
They have not faced each other on a draw in the seasons we track.
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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
Brett Howden
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 vs UTAOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Sebastian Cossa (.862)
- Fri, Nov 13 vs NSHOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.922)
- Sun, Nov 15 vs VAN1.5 pts
Jordan Martinook
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Thu, Nov 12 @ SEAOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWLikely vs Philipp Grubauer (.892)
- Sat, Nov 14 vs SEA
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brett Howden or Jordan Martinook in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Jordan Martinook scored 1.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brett Howden's 1.29. Howden had 9 points in 21 games; Martinook had 10 in 21 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, Brett Howden or Jordan Martinook?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jordan Martinook leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Howden and Martinook done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Howden's team went 8–13. Howden had 12 points (7 goals) and Martinook had 10 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Howden or Martinook?
- Against each other, Howden has won 1 and Martinook 1 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
2026-27 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 →