Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matheson for 1.3 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Mike Matheson has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 57.0%, Offensive-zone time 41.7%, Power-play share 63.2%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, 20+ mph bursts 90, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.06.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 0.96 |
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 Matheson
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 5G 6A, 37 SOG · Matheson 0G 1A, 22 SOG
Lindholm blocked 0 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 3 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
24:37 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 38–24
- 61.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.9–0.9
- 68.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-17 | BOS 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-24 | BOS 4–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-23 | BOS 2–6 MTL | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-03 | BOS 1–4 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-01 | BOS 6–3 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-10 | BOS 6–4 MTL | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-21 | VAN 4–1 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-14 | CGY 2–1 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-01 | CGY 1–2 MTL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-29 | CGY 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-28 | CGY 4–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-03-01 | CGY 3–0 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm or Mike Matheson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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 Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mike Matheson leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Matheson done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 10–6. Lindholm had 11 points (5 goals) and Matheson 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 →