Who to start · 2025-26
Dmitry Kulikov vs Nikolas Matinpalo
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolas Matinpalo projects to 0.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68.
Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Matinpalo had 5 in 50 games.
This week Kulikov has 3 games left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups; Matinpalo has 3 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kulikov for 2.8 to Matinpalo's 2.3 over the games left.
Dmitry Kulikov has the better number in 9 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Kulikov's biggest edges: Corsi 52.1%, Fenwick 50.1%, Scoring chances 51.8%.
Matinpalo's biggest edges: Sequence xG 51.9%, Expected goals 51.8%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.08.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kulikov is cooling, −3:56 TOI a game; Matinpalo is cooling, On-ice xGF/60 1.40 (was 3.02).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • Matinpalo has played 7 of the Senators' 9 games since Oct 3 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Ottawa Senators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dmitry Kulikov
-3.6
category z-score total
Nikolas Matinpalo
-3.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikolas Matinpalo has the edge (Kulikov wins 2, Matinpalo wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kulikov | Matinpalo |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Assists / game | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.04 | 0.08 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.70 | 0.73 |
| Hits / game | 1.18 | 0.85 |
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 Matinpalo
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kulikov 0G 0A, 3 SOG · Matinpalo 0G 1A, 0 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kulikov's side)
9:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Kulikov's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–11
- 21.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 20.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kulikov | Matinpalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 | FLA 1–5 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-03-31 | FLA 6–3 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-08 | FLA 5–1 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 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
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)
Nikolas Matinpalo
3games
2.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA0.8 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR0.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dmitry Kulikov or Nikolas Matinpalo in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolas Matinpalo projects to 0.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68. Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Matinpalo had 5 in 50 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 Nikolas Matinpalo?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dmitry Kulikov 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 Matinpalo done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Kulikov's team went 2–1. Kulikov had 0 points (0 goals) and Matinpalo had 1 (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 →