Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Pastrnak's 1.8.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Hits 86, Transition attempts /60 1.66, Penalty minutes 72.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Top skating speed 23.2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.44
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pastrnak | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.30 |
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: Pastrnak vs Schmaltz
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.
Pastrnak 8G 10A, 62 SOG · Schmaltz 4G 5A, 27 SOG
Pastrnak blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Pastrnak's.
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
6:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–6
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 69.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-16 | BOS 4–1 UTA | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-19 | BOS 2–3 UTA | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-11-21 | BOS 1–0 UTA | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | BOS 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-09 | BOS 3–4 ARI | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-09 | BOS 5–3 ARI | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-09 | BOS 3–4 ARI | 1G 0A 9S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-12 | BOS 3–2 ARI | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-01-28 | BOS 2–1 ARI | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-08 | BOS 4–2 ARI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-05 | BOS 1–0 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-12-11 | BOS 4–3 ARI | 1G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
David Pastrnak
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Pastrnak or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Schmaltz had 74 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, David Pastrnak or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz 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 Pastrnak and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 9–5. Pastrnak had 18 points (8 goals) and Schmaltz had 9 (4 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 →