Who to start · 2025-26
Chris Kreider vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42.
Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Kreider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malkin has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Kreider's 1.0.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kreider's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.9, Corsi 55.9%, Fenwick 55.5%.
Malkin's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1034, Luck Meter +38, Plus/minus +13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chris Kreider
1.42
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kreider | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 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: Kreider 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.
Kreider 20G 14A, 99 SOG · Malkin 10G 18A, 77 SOG
Kreider's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 1–1 · Kreider's defensive zone 0–0 (2019-20 to 2022-23)
Kreider blocked 0 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 1 of Kreider's.
On the ice against each other (Kreider's side)
2:12 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kreider's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–2
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kreider | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-14 | ANA 4–3 PIT | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-06 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-09 | NYR 6–0 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | NYR 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-16 | NYR 7–4 PIT | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-22 | NYR 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-18 | NYR 6–0 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-16 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-12 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-12-20 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-05-15 · PO | NYR 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-05-13 · PO | NYR 5–3 PIT | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
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 LWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chris Kreider or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42. Kreider had 50 points in 75 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, Chris Kreider or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 18 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 Malkin done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Kreider's team went 18–15. Kreider had 34 points (20 goals) and Malkin had 28 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kreider or Malkin?
- Against each other, Kreider has won 2 and Malkin 3 of their 5 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 →