Who to start · 2025-26
Casey DeSmith vs Kevin Lankinen
In 2025-26, Casey DeSmith posted a .907 save percentage to Kevin Lankinen's .875.
Against our expected-goals model, DeSmith saved +5.5 goals and Lankinen −18.2.
This week DeSmith has 1 game left (about 0.9 expected starts); Lankinen has 2 left (about 1.0 expected starts) with 1 soft matchup. We project DeSmith for 2.4 ESPN points to Lankinen's 0.5.
Casey DeSmith has the better number in 9 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.
DeSmith's biggest edges: Goals-against average 2.43, Goals against 71, Save % .907.
Lankinen's biggest edges: Saves 1,125, Games started 43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 W, .789 SV%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Casey DeSmith
2.16
fantasy points per game
Kevin Lankinen
-0.98
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Casey DeSmith has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeSmith | Lankinen |
|---|---|---|
| Wins (+4) | 2.00 | 0.94 |
| Goals against (-2) | -4.73 | -6.81 |
| Saves (+0.2) | 4.59 | 4.79 |
| Shutouts (+3) | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| OT losses (+1) | 0.20 | 0.11 |
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: DeSmith vs Lankinen
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.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeSmith | Lankinen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-02 | DAL 6–1 VAN | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-11-20 | DAL 4–2 VAN | 0/0 SV | 20/24 SV |
| 2025-10-16 | DAL 3–5 VAN | 21/26 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-04-08 | DAL 5–6 VAN | 26/32 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-03-09 | DAL 4–1 VAN | 22/23 SV | 15/18 SV |
| 2025-01-31 | DAL 5–3 VAN | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2024-05-03 · PO | VAN 1–0 NSH | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | VAN 1–2 NSH | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2024-04-26 · PO | VAN 2–1 NSH | 29/30 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | VAN 1–4 NSH | 12/15 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2024-04-21 · PO | VAN 4–2 NSH | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2023-12-19 | VAN 5–2 NSH | 26/28 SV | 11/11 SV |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
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.
Casey DeSmith
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
About 0.9 expected starts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B88% to start2.4 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to GSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Kevin Lankinen
4games (2 left)
0.5proj. ESPN pts
About 1.0 expected starts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY18% to start0.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to GSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B79% to start0.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to GSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Casey DeSmith or Kevin Lankinen?
- In 2025-26, Casey DeSmith posted a .907 save percentage to Kevin Lankinen's .875. Against our expected-goals model, DeSmith saved +5.5 goals and Lankinen −18.2. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
- Who is better, Casey DeSmith or Kevin Lankinen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Casey DeSmith leads in 9 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeSmith and Lankinen done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, DeSmith's team went 13–5.
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 →