Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Malkin has 1 left. We project Malkin for 2.1 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 65, 20+ mph bursts 150, Corsi 57.5%.
Malkin's biggest edges: Luck Meter +38, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Hardest shot 93.1.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Malkin 60–54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.14 |
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: Nelson vs Malkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 22G 13A, 105 SOG · Malkin 16G 23A, 103 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 7–14 · neutral 28–13 · Nelson's defensive zone 25–27 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 1 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 0 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
3:37 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–1
- 83.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.0
- 97.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | COL 2–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-29 | NYI 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYI 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-05 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-31 | NYI 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-12-27 | NYI 0–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-09 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-20 | NYI 4–2 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-27 | NYI 5–1 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 37 meetings.
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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Brock Nelson or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Malkin done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 22–15. Nelson had 35 points (22 goals) and Malkin had 39 (16 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Malkin?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 60 and Malkin 54 of their 114 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 →