Who to start · 2025-26
Eeli Tolvanen vs Esa Lindell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71.
Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 games.
This week Tolvanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Lindell has 1 left. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Tolvanen's 1.3.
Esa Lindell has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tolvanen's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.8, Ascension score 57, Hits 187.
Lindell's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Plus/minus +30, High-danger chances 55.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Eeli Tolvanen
1.71
fantasy points per game
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tolvanen | Lindell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.48 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.26 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.10 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 1.12 |
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: Tolvanen vs Lindell
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tolvanen 9G 8A, 51 SOG · Lindell 2G 10A, 30 SOG
Tolvanen blocked 1 of Lindell's shots; Lindell blocked 5 of Tolvanen's.
On the ice against each other (Tolvanen's side)
14:15 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tolvanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–12
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 36.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tolvanen | Lindell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | SEA 1–4 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-26 | SEA 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-09 | SEA 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-31 | SEA 1–3 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-03-29 | SEA 1–5 DAL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-13 | SEA 0–2 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-13 | SEA 1–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-30 | SEA 0–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-12-18 | SEA 3–4 DAL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-05-15 · PO | SEA 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-05-13 · PO | SEA 6–3 DAL | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-05-11 · PO | SEA 2–5 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
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
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.
Eeli Tolvanen
4games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Eeli Tolvanen or Esa Lindell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71. Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Lindell had 32 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, Eeli Tolvanen or Esa Lindell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Esa Lindell 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 Tolvanen and Lindell done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Tolvanen's team went 11–19. Tolvanen had 17 points (9 goals) and Lindell had 12 (2 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 →