Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Malkin has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Blocked shots 59, Faceoff win % 56.1%, Draw Equity /100 +0.081.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Sequence xG 53.9%, Expected goals 53.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Lindholm leads Malkin 24–21.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 0.14 |
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: Lindholm vs Malkin
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.
Lindholm 1G 5A, 28 SOG · Malkin 6G 9A, 48 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 4–1 · neutral 11–8 · Lindholm's defensive zone 9–12 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Lindholm blocked 1 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 0 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
9:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–14
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 22.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-11 | BOS 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-13 | BOS 4–1 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-27 | VAN 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-14 | CGY 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-11-23 | CGY 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-25 | CGY 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2019-12-17 | CGY 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-25 | CGY 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-02-16 | CGY 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Elias Lindholm or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Malkin done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 8–9. Lindholm had 6 points (1 goals) and Malkin had 15 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Malkin?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 24 and Malkin 21 of their 45 head-to-head draws.
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 →