Who to start · 2026-27

Dmitry Orlov vs Esa Lindell

Dmitry OrlovSharks · Defence
vs
Esa LindellStars · Defence
Steady
Rising+4:43 TOI a game

In 2026-27, Dmitry Orlov scored 1.64 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.38.

Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Lindell had 1 in 14 games.

This week Orlov has 1 game left; Lindell has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Orlov for 1.6 to Lindell's 1.5 over the games left.

Esa Lindell has the better number in 10 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.

Orlov's biggest edges: Luck Meter +69, Transition attempts /60 0.58, Offensive-zone start % 47.1%.

Lindell's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.4%, Expected goals 54.0%, Sequence xG 53.3%.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Dmitry Orlov rates ahead, +1.7 to -3.0 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Orlov is steady; Lindell is rising, +4:43 TOI a game.

  • • Orlov, last 10 games (Oct 27–Nov 14): 1 G, 8 A, 5 PPP, 10 SOG.
  • • Lindell has played 10 of the Stars' 15 games since Oct 10 (in and out of the lineup).
  • • Lindell, last 10 games (Oct 10–Nov 14): 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 15 SOG.

San Jose Sharks · Dallas Stars · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Dmitry Orlov

+1.7

category z-score total

Esa Lindell

-3.0

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Dmitry Orlov has the edge (Orlov wins 4, Lindell wins 2 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryOrlovLindell
Goals / game0.140.00
Assists / game0.500.07
Plus/minus / game-0.450.21
Power-play points / game0.360.00
Shots on goal / game1.001.21
Hits / game1.500.43

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: Orlov vs Lindell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

OrlovLindell
7Team record in 19 meetings12
5Points in those games4

Orlov 2G 3A, 24 SOG · Lindell 0G 4A, 30 SOG

0Shots blocked by the other2

Orlov blocked 0 of Lindell's shots; Lindell blocked 2 of Orlov's.

On the ice against each other (Orlov's side)

37:42 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Orlov's side

Shot attempts
29–30
49.2%
Expected goals
1.4–1.4
50.3%
Goals
1–2

Games against each other

Games between Dmitry Orlov and Esa Lindell
DateScoreOrlovLindell
2026-11-07SJS 3–4 DAL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2026-10-05SJS 0–5 DAL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2026-01-10SJS 5–4 DAL0G 1A 0S0G 0A 0S
2025-12-18SJS 3–5 DAL0G 0A 1S0G 2A 1S
2025-12-05SJS 1–4 DAL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-21CAR 2–1 DAL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-25CAR 6–4 DAL0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-02-24CAR 1–2 DAL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2024-02-13CAR 2–4 DAL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2022-12-15WSH 1–2 DAL0G 0A 8S0G 0A 1S
2022-10-27WSH 0–2 DAL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2022-03-20WSH 2–3 DAL1G 0A 2S0G 1A 2S

Latest 12 of 19 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.

OrlovLindell

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

OrlovLindell

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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

San Jose Sharks logo

Dmitry Orlov

4games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN default pts

  • Mon, Nov 9 vs NYI
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.915)
  • Wed, Nov 11 vs PIT
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Sergei Murashov (.893)
  • Sat, Nov 14 @ UTA
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.872)
  • Sun, Nov 15 vs NSHB2B1.6 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.5 win%vs Juuse Saros (.922)
Dallas Stars logo

Esa Lindell

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN default pts

  • Thu, Nov 12 vs WPG
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.880)
  • Sat, Nov 14 vs BUF
    Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Alex Lyon (.909)
  • Sun, Nov 15 vs FLAB2B1.5 pts
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.883)

Player data stories

How the game changed, told through the numbers.

All NHL data stories

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Dmitry Orlov or Esa Lindell in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Dmitry Orlov scored 1.64 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.38. Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Lindell had 1 in 14 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 Orlov or Esa Lindell?
On 2026-27 numbers, Esa Lindell leads in 10 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Orlov and Lindell done against each other?
In 19 games against each other in our data, Orlov's team went 7–12. Orlov had 5 points (2 goals) and Lindell had 4 (0 goals).

2026-27 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 →