Who to start · 2026-27
Dmitry Orlov vs Travis Sanheim
In 2026-27, Travis Sanheim scored 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Orlov's 1.64.
Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Sanheim had 9 in 22 games.
This week Orlov has 1 game left; Sanheim has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Orlov for 1.6 to Sanheim's 1.6 over the games left.
Travis Sanheim has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Orlov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.5%, Goals above expected +2.1, Hits 33.
Sanheim's biggest edges: Ice-time share 41.1%, Ice time per game 24:59, Blocked shots 44.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Dmitry Orlov rates ahead, +1.7 to -0.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Orlov is steady; Sanheim is steady.
- • Orlov, last 10 games (Oct 27–Nov 14): 1 G, 8 A, 5 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • Sanheim, last 10 games (Oct 24–Nov 14): 2 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 18 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Dmitry Orlov has the edge (Orlov wins 3, Sanheim wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Orlov | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.14 | 0.14 |
| Assists / game | 0.50 | 0.27 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.45 | -0.27 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.36 | 0.05 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.00 | 1.77 |
| Hits / game | 1.50 | 0.64 |
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 Sanheim
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.
Orlov 3G 11A, 47 SOG · Sanheim 3G 5A, 39 SOG
Orlov blocked 0 of Sanheim's shots; Sanheim blocked 1 of Orlov's.
On the ice against each other (Orlov's side)
16:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Orlov's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–17
- 51.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.9
- 47.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Orlov | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | SJS 1–4 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-09 | SJS 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-20 | CAR 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-05 | CAR 6–4 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-21 | CAR 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-28 | CAR 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-15 | CAR 1–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-30 | CAR 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-14 | WSH 1–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-11 | WSH 3–5 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-26 | WSH 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-02-17 | WSH 5–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 30 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
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
Dmitry Orlov
4games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs NYI
- Wed, Nov 11 vs PITOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Sergei Murashov (.893)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ UTAOpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.872)
Travis Sanheim
4games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 @ VANB2B
- Wed, Nov 11 @ EDMOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-most FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.875)
- Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dmitry Orlov or Travis Sanheim in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Travis Sanheim scored 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Orlov's 1.64. Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Sanheim had 9 in 22 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 Travis Sanheim?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Travis Sanheim leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Orlov and Sanheim done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Orlov's team went 17–13. Orlov had 14 points (3 goals) and Sanheim had 8 (3 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 →