Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left; Ekholm has 1 left. We project Nurse for 1.8 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.4.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.8, Penalty minutes 104, 20+ mph bursts 101.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Scoring chances 57.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 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: Nurse 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.
Nurse 1G 8A, 45 SOG · Ekholm 2G 4A, 27 SOG
Nurse blocked 1 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 1 of Nurse's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
49:51 at 5-on-5 over 30 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 64–37
- 63.4%
- Expected goals
- 3.4–1.4
- 70.3%
- Goals
- 4–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-19 | EDM 3–4 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-12-13 | EDM 6–3 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-01 | EDM 7–4 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-04-14 | EDM 4–0 NSH | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-27 | EDM 3–2 NSH | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-03 | EDM 5–2 NSH | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-03-02 | EDM 8–3 NSH | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-08 | EDM 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-14 | EDM 4–2 NSH | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-02-25 | EDM 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-10-27 | EDM 5–3 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-20 | EDM 0–3 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 pts
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Nurse had 24 points in 82 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, Darnell Nurse or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nurse and Ekholm done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 9–6. Nurse had 9 points (1 goals) and Ekholm had 6 (2 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 →