Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Blocked shots 59, Draw Equity /100 +0.081, Faceoff win % 56.1%.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.8, 20+ mph bursts 455, Scoring chances 59.3%.
Head to head on the dot, Lindholm leads MacKinnon 48–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 8G 6A, 51 SOG · MacKinnon 16G 22A, 123 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 16–7 · neutral 17–6 · Lindholm's defensive zone 15–12 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Lindholm blocked 3 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
10:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–21
- 19.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–1.4
- 0.7%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-25 | BOS 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-10-18 | BOS 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2025-01-25 | BOS 3–1 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2024-10-16 | BOS 5–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-03-13 | VAN 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | VAN 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 10S |
| 2023-12-11 | CGY 5–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-25 | CGY 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-25 | CGY 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-18 | CGY 1–4 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-10-13 | CGY 5–3 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-13 | CGY 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 2G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 31 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 10–15. Lindholm had 14 points (8 goals) and MacKinnon had 38 (16 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 48 and MacKinnon 25 of their 73 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 →