Who to start · 2025-26
Chris Kreider vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42.
Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Kreider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ekholm for 1.1 ESPN points to Kreider's 1.0.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kreider's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:12, Power-play share 62.1%, Penalty minutes 34.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 125.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chris Kreider
1.42
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mattias Ekholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kreider | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.67 |
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 Ekholm
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 4G 11A, 42 SOG · Ekholm 5G 8A, 32 SOG
Kreider blocked 1 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 2 of Kreider's.
On the ice against each other (Kreider's side)
27:47 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Kreider's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–43
- 35.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–2.1
- 36.5%
- Goals
- 3–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kreider | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-30 · PO | ANA 5–2 EDM | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | ANA 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | ANA 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | ANA 7–4 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | ANA 6–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | ANA 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-28 | ANA 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-25 | ANA 6–5 EDM | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2026-01-26 | ANA 4–7 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-23 | NYR 2–6 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-22 | NYR 3–4 EDM | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-26 | NYR 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 20 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 LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chris Kreider or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chris Kreider's 1.42. Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Ekholm had 41 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 Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 20 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 Ekholm done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Kreider's team went 10–10. Kreider had 15 points (4 goals) and Ekholm had 13 (5 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 →