Who to start · 2025-26
Chris Kreider vs Esa Lindell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42.
Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 games.
This week Kreider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Lindell has 1 left. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Kreider's 1.0.
Chris Kreider has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kreider's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.5%, Top skating speed 22.9, Offensive-zone start % 65.7%.
Lindell's biggest edges: Blocked shots 179, On-ice PDO 1038, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chris Kreider
1.42
fantasy points per game
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kreider | Lindell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.10 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 1.12 |
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: Kreider vs Lindell
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.
Kreider 6G 4A, 29 SOG · Lindell 1G 4A, 21 SOG
Kreider blocked 0 of Lindell's shots; Lindell blocked 5 of Kreider's.
On the ice against each other (Kreider's side)
20:32 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kreider's side
- Shot attempts
- 28–9
- 75.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 51.0%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kreider | Lindell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | ANA 3–1 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-19 | ANA 3–8 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-06 | ANA 7–5 DAL | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-20 | NYR 3–1 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYR 3–1 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-20 | NYR 3–6 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-29 | NYR 6–3 DAL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-12 | NYR 7–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-10-14 | NYR 2–3 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-03-05 | NYR 0–1 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-11-19 | NYR 2–1 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2017-12-11 | NYR 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
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.
Chris Kreider
2games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.0 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chris Kreider or Esa Lindell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42. Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 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, Chris Kreider or Esa Lindell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Chris Kreider leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kreider and Lindell done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Kreider's team went 7–5. Kreider had 10 points (6 goals) and Lindell 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 →