Who to start · 2025-26
Dmitry Kulikov vs Niko Mikkola
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Niko Mikkola projects to 1.07 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68.
Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Mikkola had 11 in 68 games.
This week Kulikov has 3 games left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups; Mikkola has 3 left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Mikkola for 3.4 to Kulikov's 2.8 over the games left.
Niko Mikkola has the better number in 9 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Kulikov's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1006, Transition attempts /60 0.79, Scoring chances 51.8%.
Mikkola's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.02, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.026.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Niko Mikkola rates ahead, -0.6 to -3.6 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kulikov is cooling, −3:56 TOI a game; Mikkola is steady, 2 P in last 5 (0.15/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 13 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dmitry Kulikov
-3.6
category z-score total
Niko Mikkola
-0.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Niko Mikkola has the edge (Kulikov wins 0, Mikkola wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kulikov | Mikkola |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Assists / game | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.04 | 0.07 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.70 | 1.17 |
| Hits / game | 1.18 | 1.44 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Kulikov vs Mikkola
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kulikov 0G 1A, 12 SOG · Mikkola 0G 0A, 3 SOG
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
54:36 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 59–42
- 58.4%
- Expected goals
- 2.1–1.8
- 54.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kulikov | Mikkola |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-12 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-21 | ANA 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-19 | ANA 2–6 STL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-05-12 · PO | MIN 1–5 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-05-02 · PO | MIN 0–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-08 | MIN 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-01 | MIN 4–6 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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
Chemistry as teammates
How their expected-goal share at 5v5 changed together vs apart (shrunk for sample size), and how closely their DraftKings points moved game to game (raw, that season only; for forward linemates the typical value is about .28).
| Season | 5v5 min together | xG% lift | xGF/60 lift | DK correlation (raw) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 FLA | 54 | +0.7 | +0.01 | – (too few games together) |
| 2024-25 FLA | 684 | −3.7 | −0.19 | .08(−.17 to .32), 46 GP |
| 2023-24 FLA | 349 | +0.3 | +0.11 | .47(.11 to .72), 20 GP |
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Dmitry Kulikov
3games
2.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT0.9 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Niko Mikkola
3games
3.4proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT1.1 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.2 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dmitry Kulikov or Niko Mikkola in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Niko Mikkola projects to 1.07 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68. Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Mikkola had 11 in 68 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, Dmitry Kulikov or Niko Mikkola?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Niko Mikkola leads in 9 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kulikov and Mikkola done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Kulikov's team went 1–6. Kulikov had 1 points (0 goals) and Mikkola had 0 (0 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 →